Labour Research May 2008

Health & Safety Matters

NHS violence is still unacceptably high

A new survey carried out by the Healthcare Commission has revealed that 13% of NHS staff were physically attacked at work last year.

“Once again, the number of staff reporting physical violence and harassment remains depressingly high,” commented Karen Jennings, head of health at public services union UNISON. “The frankly shocking figures show that there has been no real decrease in those who have personally experienced being attacked by patients or their relatives.”