Assaults on hospital trust staff going up

Assaults on staff working for the Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust are on the rise, the latest figures show.
By The Newsroom
Published 21st Nov 2014, 08:08 BST

The statistics, released by NHS Protect, show that assaults on staff rose from 102 in 2012/13 to 129 in 2013/14. Of those assaults, sanctions were taken against one person in 2013/14, whereas that figure was five in 2012/13. In 2013/14 6,685, while that figure was 5,992 in 2012/13.

The trust’s chairman, Andrew Haigh, said: “The trust continues to take a robust zero tolerance stance against people who assault our staff as they are trying to do their jobs caring for patients and where necessary we will always involve the police.

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“We encourage staff to report all incidents of abuse of all types. Even one assault is one too many.”

Richard Hampton, Head of External Engagement and Services at NHS Protect, said: “No NHS staff should be physically assaulted and we encourage staff who are victims of violence to press charges against assailants.

“Those who work in the NHS have the right to provide care in a safe environment. Employers must do all they can to support staff in preventing incidents and pursuing offenders”.