Assaults on hospital staff continue to spiral

ASSAULTS against NHS workers have increased according to reports from half of the health boards in Scotland.

Labour justice spokesman Richard Baker said yesterday that seven of the 14 boards have reported spiralling figures.

The biggest increase in assaults was in Lothian, rising from 1,261 in 2008 to 1,877 in 2009. Labour politicians obtained the figures under freedom of information laws and the data has prompted the party to call for more protection for NHS workers under the Emergency Workers Act 2005.

Assaulting, obstructing or hindering someone providing an emergency service is a specific offence and carries a maximum penalty of nine months in jail and or a fine of 5,000.

Police, fire and ambulance crews, doctors, nurses and midwives are covered by the Act. Labour wants staff and other workers such as porters and receptionists to be given the same protection.

Baker said the SNP administration has not kept a manifesto pledge to extend the legislation to cover all NHS staff.

He added: "I am shocked and disappointed at the rising toll of violence against NHS workers in many parts of Scotland. Those who work in the NHS should have an absolute right to feel safe from assault.

"The SNP made a manifesto commitment to extend the emergency workers legislation to cover all NHS staff. They have now been in power for three years but have done nothing. I want to see them keep this promise and offer Labour's support for a Bill in the next legislative programme.

"We need to come together as a parliament and send a clear message that violence and aggression against NHS staff is totally unacceptable."

The number of assaults against NHS staff dropped to 12,275 in 2009 compared with 14,273 in 2008. Last year Glasgow recorded 2,789 assaults against NHS workers, the highest in Scotland, although this compares with 4,576 in 2008.

Labour and SNP MSPs called for the scope of the legislation to be extended to include shopworkers during a parliamentary debate last week.

But a spokesman for Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon accused Baker of hypocrisy.

"Richard Baker may not know it, but the SNP government extended the Emergency Workers Act two years ago to give legal protection to GPs, midwives and other doctors working in the community – the very thing Labour failed to do when they were in office.

"These issues are too important for ill-informed party politicking."