Government is failing to protect health service staff from violence at work

Escalating violence and aggression towards NHS staff is having a ‘catastrophic’ effect on their physical and mental health, UNISON health delegates heard today. A motion on protecting NHS staff against violence and aggression noted that in England more than 70,000 NHS staff were assaulted in 2015/16, up 4% from the previous year. New figures to be revealed by UNISON and HSJ on Tuesday, for 2016/17, will give even more dramatic results. Similar levels of violence are reported in the devolved nations. These assaults can have a “catastrophic effect”, the motion states, not only due to the physical impact of the injury, but also the long-term psychological impact. Traumatised victims can take many months to recover. Attacks include needle stick injuries, bites, spitting and sexual assault. In the early 2000s the government launched its ‘zero tolerance’ campaign and created NHS Protect to take a national role in reducing violence and aggression. But despite the year-on-year increase in attacks, NHS Protect ceased to operate in April 2017, leaving no national body charged with protecting NHS staff. Proposing the motion, Linda Hobson of the health service group executive, told delegates: “I started nurse training a few years ago and was shocked and surprised by how much violence and aggression was targeted at NHS staff. “It also shocked me that some people felt it was part of the role and was to be expected. It’s not. No-one should go to wor...
Source: UNISON Health care news - Category: UK Health Authors: Tags: Article News 2018 Health Conference health staff NHS violence at work Source Type: news