New calls for zero tolerance over attacks on NHS workers

Published on Thursday 30 July 2009 09:57

THERE were fresh calls today for a zero-tolerance approach to aggressive patients after new figures revealed an average of one nurse a day is attacked in Lothian hospitals.

The latest figures show nurses were subjected to more 400 physical assaults in 2008, and figures from the first half of this year suggest that figure will continue to rise.

Nurses' unions and politicians said it was time the matter was addressed once and for all, while health chiefs insisted better awareness of reporting such incidents were partly to blame for the increase.

Lothians MSP Gavin Brown said action had to be taken to protect the nurses in the firing line.

"These figures are absolutely staggering and urgent action is required," the Conservative MSP said.

"I don't believe that the rise in attacks can solely be attributed to better reporting of attacks as it is clear that people are getting more aggressive towards emergency staff – a situation that is completely unacceptable.

"Since 2007 we have seen a sharp rise in the number of violent incidents towards hospital staff and we need to tackle this. What we need is a zero-tolerance approach with a tougher stance being taken on those who threaten and attack hospital staff."

The figures, released by NHS Lothian under Freedom of Information, showed that there were 461 attacks on nurses last year, 173 more than 2007.

So far in 2009, there have already been 238 violent attacks on nurses.

If all health workers are included, there were 2,500 assaults in 2008, 1,000 more than the year before, although the figures do not state whether the perpetrators were patients or visitors.

Theresa Fyffe, director of the Royal College of Nursing in Scotland, said: "Nurses are trained to deal with stressful situations as part of their working day, but it is absolutely unacceptable that so many are placed under further pressure because of intimidation, violence and aggression from members of the public.

"Under the Emergency Workers Act it is an offence to assault nurses and other healthcare staff wherever they are working.

"Any attacks on staff must be taken extremely seriously, and I encourage all nursing staff to report incidents of violence and aggression to their employers and urge the police to ensure they investigate all such incidents to deter members of the public from carrying out threatening or violent acts."

As well as the improved reporting of incidents, the fact NHS Lothian has recorded a rise in overall patient numbers could also be behind the increase in assaults.

Alan Boyter, director of human resources and organisational development for NHS Lothian, said: "Displaying violence or aggression towards NHS staff is completely unacceptable and we work closely with the police to ensure, as far as is possible, that our staff are working in safe environments and that appropriate action is taken against those who subject staff to abuse in the course of their duties."