900 attacks on NHS staff battling Covid pandemic
STAFF at Birmingham’s hospitals were assaulted nearly 900 times as they battled to provide care during the pandemic.
Organisations representing NHS staff have warned of a growing tide of abuse in recent months, with patients taking out frustrations with long waits and delays on those who work for the health service.
Exclusive figures show 897 physical assaults were recorded against staff at Birmingham hospital trusts in 2020/21.
While that was down 11% from 1,011 recorded in 2019/20, the attacks happened at a time when the pandemic led to far fewer people attending hospitals – likely meaning the risk to staff increased last year. Trusts in Birmingham saw A&E attendances drop 26% in 2020/21, while admissions fell 30% and outpatient attendances were down 19%. Covid also meant restrictions on visitors.
The number of assaults may be even higher, as on top of 619 assaults at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust and 278 at Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust in 2020/21, there were also 86 in 2020 at Birmingham Women and Children’s Hospital NHS Trust, down from 91 in 2019. There were 405 injuries to staff at Birmingham trusts last year.
Few assailants face police action as a result of the assault – for example, at Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, assaults led to just three criminal sanctions.
In some cases bringing criminal sanctions is not possible, as the assailant is not aware of what they have done because of their medical condition or treatment.
The figures for Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust suggest this is the case in 40% of assaults.
Leona Cameron, Royal College of Nursing National Officer, said: “Assaults on staff can never be excused or seen as acceptable. We know it can have a real and longlasting effect on those who are just doing their job.
“It has to be taken seriously and staff should be reporting all of these incidents and employers should be taking every single report seriously.
“But these attacks do not happen in a vacuum, and improved staffing levels, learning from incidents is a vital part of reducing the risk that too many health care staff run day in, day out.”