Assaults on NHS Premises
Official figures published by NHS Protect show that the incidence of violence towards NHS staff has continued to rise. But, what about the incidence of patient on patient assaults?
It's pretty high in MH settings! MIND's Ward Watch survey (2004) indicated that 51% of recent or current inpatients reported being verbally or physically threatened during their stay with 20% reporting physical assault - and that 56% of harassment or assault episodes were perpetrated by a patient or service user.
What is it today? No official records are kept. But, it's unlikely to have reduced and the financial exigencies affecting the NHS make it more likely that it has got worse.
Likewise, what's the frequency of NHS staff on patient assaults?
MIND's Ward Watch survey (2004) indicated that 31% of harassment or assault episodes were perpetrated by a ward staff member! No official national figures are being recorded but, for the same reasons given above, the situation has probably worsened rather than improved.
And lastly, the figures for staff on staff violence in the NHS?
NHS Protect does not monitor or collate these statistics. However, the 2014 National Survey of NHS Staff indicated that 2% of the 244,496 respondents had experienced physical violence by colleagues and since the NHS currently employs more than 1.5 million people, the total number of staff on staff assaults would appear likely to be in the region of 29,000+.
Wow! You'd think that'd be difficult to ignore. But that's what's happening! Isn't it?
Lead Consultant at Maybo
8 年The end of NHS Protect's role in security management will undoubtedly weaken not strengthen the chances of a holistic approach across the Healthcare sector. The requirements for security are included in the NHS standard contract yet with the CQC as the only body likely to inspect Trust's compliance on a practical level there will be no effect assurance mechanism post April.
Specialist Anti Crime Training & Support (LSMS & LCFS)
8 年With a debate coming up in Parliament later this month hopefully there will be some serious thought given to how to tackle the issue and get a truer idea of the scale of the problem and a more holistic approach to reducing violence wherever NHS Staff face it, on site, off site. The BBC has also broken news of the ending of services by NHS Protect as well, but hopefully a new body will pick up the work they have been doing since 2003.
Health and Safety Advisor at MSEFT (Mid and South Essex Foundation Trust).
8 年Jim, NHS assaults on staff are seriously under reported. If you really want to know what is going on, ask the NRLS. (National Reporting and Listening Service). 99% of NHS staff are genuine, in my experience, and wouldn't tolerate staff on staff abuse or staff on patient abuse - fortunately the mind-set is now coming round to reporting incidents and assaults, but there are still far too many that accept violence and aggression as 'part of the job' - the sooner we can change this the sooner the NHS will start to retain some of its much valued and under paid staff.
Senior Consultant at AEGIS PROTECTIVE SERVICES (UK)
8 年I hope Trusts take your advice Simon Whitehorn.