Increase in attacks against NHS staff

University Hospitals Tees has launched a campaign to tackle violence after hospitals reported a 32% increase in attacks against staff over the previous 12 months.

More than 800 members of staff across South Tees and North Tees and Hartlepool Hospitals NHS Foundation Trusts said they had been assaulted by patients, relatives or the public in the course of their duties.

The SoR radiographers’ union said it was “concerned but sadly not surprised” by the news. SoR executive director Dean Rogers made clear that “we can never and will never condone violence against any members in their workplace”. But he said the union “recognises that some patients may have challenges communicating, and aggression could arise from problems of patient experience”.

The SoR is identifying positive initiatives in areas such as neurodiversity to help minimise the risk and stress for patients as part of training and is promoting positive practice. It is also training reps and supporting initiatives highlighting that aggression towards staff is unacceptable.

“We expect employers to press for prosecutions where patients demonstrate aggressive racist, sexist or other discriminatory behaviours towards their staff,” added Rogers.

• The Rail Safety and Standards Board 2023-24 annual report shows there were 177 lost time incidents resulting from staff members being assaulted, a slight increase on the previous year.