Medics call for more action to cut violence

Published on Monday 26 January 2009 09:09

HEALTH chiefs need to listen more to their staff if violence against medics and bullying is to cease.

That is the view of the Edinburgh-based Royal College of Nursing, which said enough still wasn't being done to address the issue.

Responding to the publication of the NHS Scotland Opinion Survey 2008, RCN Scotland's associate director for employment relations welcomed the fact fewer nurses seemed to be concerned about violence against them, but pointed out a fifth had still experienced some kind of incident in the last year.

Norman Provan said: "While the results from this survey show a welcome improvement, almost one in five still experienced a violent or aggressive incident over the last 12 months."

However, Mr Provan lamented the fact the survey revealed little improvement on the bullying and harassment front.

"Health boards and managers need to be more proactive, listen to their staff and change the workplace culture," he said.