Rise in assaults on staff reveals intolerable pressure on NHS

Health workers around the globe are at a high risk of physical violence – the UK government must face up to the problem

The revelation of the sharp increase in attacks on NHS staff highlights a problem which is serious, global and growing.

The survey by the Health Service Journal and Unison showed assaults in 2016-17 were almost 10% up on the previous year, driven by big increases in hospitals that were missing treatment targets or seriously in debt. Staff in mental health trusts were more than seven times more likely to be attacked than those in other trusts.

Related: NHS survey reveals staff are determined to make the best of tough conditions

Related: Patient safety hit by lack of staff, warn 80% of NHS workers

Continue reading... April 20, 2018 at 06:05PM