UNISON calls for tough action on NHS violence

NHS workers have been punched, kicked, spat at and had knives pulled on them, as assaults have increased again over the last year.

Almost 56,000 NHS staff in England were physically assaulted in 2007-08, according to figures from the NHS Security Management Services.

UNISON public services union called for tough action to cut down on violence in the wake of the figures. Karen Jennings, the union’s head of health, said: “The catalogue of assaults is shameful. Many of these assaults are preventable.”

She called on the NHS to introduce measures to protect staff, such as more security staff working in accident and emergency departments, as well as “more CCTV, alarms, better co-ordination between police and ambulance staff,” and “flagging up dangerous areas or building safety features into hospitals and wards”.