People who are violent or aggressive towards NHS staff are more likely to be prosecuted than ever before, according to new figures.
There were 59 successful prosecutions and a further 35 other sanctions such as fixed penalties and ASBO referrals at the halfway point of 2010/11. In contrast, the number of prosecutions or sanctions over the whole of 2009/10 was in single figures.
However, the figures also show that the number of violent and aggressive incidents against NHS staff remain at similar levels to last year. At the mid-year point of 2010/11 there were 4,285 incidents. In 2009-10 there were 8,343 incidents.
Launching a new drive to cut violence and aggression further and encourage staff to report incidents, Health Minister Edwina Hart said:
“Any violence or aggression towards healthcare staff is unacceptable, and so I am pleased to see that there has been a rise in prosecutions against those who willfully attack or abuse NHS staff.
“New equipment such as CCTV installed in hospitals, the Lone Worker Alert System and closer working with the police and Crown Prosecution Service is helping to bring more perpetrators to justice.
“The figures should encourage staff to see that we will do everything in our power to take action against those who abuse healthcare workers.
“It also sends a strong message to perpetrators that acts of violence and aggression towards NHS staff will not be tolerated.”
David Francis, Chair of Cardiff and Vale University Health Board and the all-Wales Violence and Aggression Champion, said:
“Abuse of NHS staff not only affects the workers themselves but also prevents them from caring for other patients.
“Neither does the incident have to be violent to cause upset – aggressive and threatening behaviour is just as unacceptable and more people are facing sanctions as a result.”
Tina Donnelly, Director of the Royal College of Nursing, Wales, said:
“I am very much in support of this campaign. A rise in prosecutions against people who are willfully violent and aggressive towards healthcare staff is very good news.
“However, the fact that the number of violent and aggressive incidents as a whole are remaining at a similar levels shows that more work needs to be done in an effort to stop this behaviour. This campaign is welcomed in the effort to ensure healthcare staff feel safe and are safe in the workplace.”
