Union and leading doctor in call for improved security at all our hospitals

‘Pure luck’ no one has died as it’s revealed there have been 50,000 attacks on health staff over last five years

SECURITY must be improved across hospitals here before someone is killed, it has been warned.

More than 50,000 attacks have been carried out on healthcare staff in the last five years, according to the Department of Health.

Conor Mccarthy of Unison said the lack of security has been raised for some time and it’s “pure luck” no one has died.

Health trusts adopt different approaches to security.

The Northern Trust has a private security company at Antrim Area and Causeway Hospitals.

The Southern Trust has security porters, while the Western Trust relies on a staff attack alarm system and “hospital portering staff”, who “provide support 24 hours a day”.

The Belfast Trust hires professional security officers whose sole role is to deal with attacks, and the South Eastern Trust has trained security staff.

A Department of Health framework outlines its commitment to ensuring the prevention, reduction and management of violence and aggression towards staff.

However, Mr Mccarthy said the focus is on holding attackers to account, rather than preventing attacks in the first place.

“It is just pure luck that somebody hasn’t been killed,” he claimed.

He added porter security was “nonsense” because it put workers, patients and visitors at unnecessary risk, as they are “nowhere near trained to do that”.

“There’s an over-reliance on CCTV as a substitute for boots on the ground. And we are tired telling them all that CCTV does is record the incident,” he said.

“There’s no evidence of prevention, no evidence that somebody is not going to act violently because there is CCTV.”

He believes a security presence at all hospitals would act as a deterrent.

One of the “biggest problems” facing hospitals was the issue of drug use and distribution.

Those with addiction issues still phone suppliers to meet them in hospitals, and other “unwanted characters” enter hospitals to steal drugs, he said.

There is a campaign for syringe boxes to be placed in public toilets because cleaning staff were “constantly being pricked with needles” in the course of their work.

It is not about having “burly doormen”, Mr Mccarthy said, as women are effective security officers who de-escalate tensions due to their training.

Unison wants a regional review of security services and to work closely with community mental health and addiction services to take a holistic approach.

He argued that would reduce assaults and help those in distress.

Tom Black, chair of the the BMA’S Northern Ireland Council, said: “The threat of violence adds to the stress of doctors’ working lives and that of all other frontline healthcare workers. It impacts on already dwindling morale at a time of increasing workloads and falling staffing numbers.

“Workforce is the most valuable asset of the health service, so more needs to be done across all health trusts to protect their safety.

“That includes improving security measures across all hospital sites to help minimise the likelihood of attacks, as well as supporting staff who experience such attacks.

“More also needs to be done to ensure that anyone who commits an act of violence against healthcare staff is dealt with appropriately.”

The Department of Health said no one should face the threat of aggression or violence in the course of their job, “least of all HSC staff who dedicate their lives to protecting and caring for patients”.

It added: “The department launched a new violence and aggression framework in December 2023, outlining the HSC’S commitment to ensuring the prevention, reduction and management of violence and aggression towards staff.

“It has also been designed to ensure that the right structures, policies and support are in place to enable staff to work safely.

“The framework also acknowledges that it is not possible to fully eliminate incidents of inappropriate behaviour when providing health services, as staff are required to treat and care for a wide range of people in challenging circumstances.

“Nonetheless, employers have a duty to provide a safe, secure environment and support for staff and others.

“Trusts are therefore required to undertake risk assessments as applicable and when incidents do occur, it is vital that they are dealt with appropriately and that staff are supported.

“The framework makes clear that trusts will also be expected to ensure incidents are reviewed and lessons learnt to reduce the risk of future occurrences.”