Call for inquiry over 70,000 violent assaults against health workers in past year

The Government is being urged to set up an inquiry into the increasing number of violent assaults against health workers.

Unison said incidents had jumped by a fifth in England over the past five years, describing the situation as “completely unacceptable”.

The union said latest figures showed the number of assaults topped 70,000 in the last year.

Unison’s head of health Christina McAnea said: “Increased pressure on the NHS and too few staff means that all too often lengthy waits in accident and emergency lead to people taking out their frustration on those very staff who are trying to help them.

“The inevitable increase in alcohol consumption in the days leading up to Christmas puts ambulance staff at real risk of violence from those who’ve had way too much to drink.

“Staff shouldn’t have to work in fear of their safety when they are only trying to care for patients and save lives.

“The Government’s squeeze on funding and the resulting shortage of nurses and ambulance staff merely makes the problem worse.

“Hospital trusts must take a zero tolerance approach to every incident, give staff all the support they need and encourage them to report each and every incident to the police.

“The Government should set up an inquiry to look at ways of keeping NHS staff safe – especially those working in high risk areas such as the ambulance service and mental health.”

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: “NHS staff work incredibly hard in a high-pressure environment.

“Some cases of assault may involve the medical conditions of patients but it is unacceptable for members of our workforce to be subject to aggression or violence.

“Assaults on members of staff should be reported and trusts should have no hesitation in involving the police as needed.”

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