200 assaults on hospital staff

More than 200 local NHS staff were attacked by people they were trying to help, worrying figures have revealed.

Pennine Acute Hospital Trust which runs four hospitals, including the Rochdale Infirmary, recorded 208 incidents of violence in 2010/11 — down from 249 in 2009/10.

This year’s figures break down into 82 unintentional assaults, involving medical factors such as patients suffering mental health issues, learning difficulties or conditions such as dementia, while 126 were categorised as intentional.

The data was provided by NHS Protect — a national body which promotes a safe and secure environment for staff.

It said it encourages hospitals to take criminal action in cases of violence against staff.

Richard Hampton, local support and development services manager at NHS Protect, said: “Staff committed to providing our National Health Service should never be expected to suffer violence at work and it will not be tolerated.

“NHS Protect urges employers to take firm action in all cases of assault against staff.”

“Rightly, staff demand that their reports of violence are followed up. Tough action is being taken to ensure that all NHS organisations work better with local police and other agencies to clamp down on anyone who is aggressive and abusive to NHS staff.”

Nationally, attacks rose to 57,830 from 56,718.

Mr Hampton believes the national increase in assaults “reflects both an improved culture of reporting assaults and better mechanisms in place to record them”.

Health minister Simon Burns said: “Staff should be able to carry out their work without fear of violence and that is why the local NHS is working with police to clamp down on this type of behaviour and ensure that the NHS is a safe place to work.”

Glynis Jones, security management specialist for The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “We are pleased to see the reduction in the assaults on our staff and continually look at what more can be done to reduce these figures further.

“Conflict-resolution training is offered to all our staff and is mandatory for frontline staff. Our security staff are highly trained in this regard and security managers liaise regularly with the neighbourhood police associated with all our hospitals.

“The Trust does not tolerate violent or abusive behaviour towards its staff.”