Call for action on violence in NHS

Public services union UNISON has accused the Scottish Executive of complacency over violence towards NHS workers.

Jim Devine, UNISON Scottish health organiser said: "This year, while working in the Scottish NHS, nurses have been stabbed, head-butted, sexually assaulted and threatened with guns."

Devine said that to the Scottish Executive's response has been "one of complacency".

He points out that there is no standard definition of physical and verbal abuse applying throughout the Scottish Health Service and as a consequence the statistics that are supplied by most Trusts are "almost meaningless". Devine added: "Training and preventative strategies are inconsistent, while recording procedures are complex and time consuming. Even simple poster campaigns are absent from most hospitals."

UNISON wants the Scottish Executive to introduce six-point action plan, including a charter reminding the public about physical and verbal abuse of workers, a standard reporting procedure and training for staff on dealing with violence.

The union also wants a yellow and red card warning system, more prosecutions and zero tolerance of violence towards staff.