Steep rise in reported assaults against NHS staff

Steep rise in reported assaults against NHS staff Last year in England physical assaults on NHS staff rose by nearly 10% compared to 2015/16, according to new figures published today (Tuesday) by UNISON and HSJ.

The figures were obtained following a Freedom of Information (FoI) request – submitted by HSJ working on behalf of UNISON – to all the 244 NHS trusts in England. Answers were received from 181 organisations.

The biggest increase was in the acute sector, with reported attacks on health workers in hospitals with an A&E department up a staggering 21%, says UNISON. There were 18,720 assaults in 2016/17 in the acute trusts who responded, compared to 15,469 the previous year.

See also:

• Two hundred attacks on hospital staff every day The Daily Mail
• Rise in attacks on NHS workers blamed on lack of staff and delays The Guardian
• Violence against NHS staff rockets as cuts cause 'hostile' environment, warns report The Independent