Rise in verbal attacks on staff over hospital mask wearing
A NURSING chief has warned of a zero tolerance approach and said action will be taken amid a worrying increase in ‘aggressive and intimidatory behaviour’ towards her staff.
Ellie Ward, deputy director of nursing at South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust, says there has been a rise in verbal attacks on staff when members of the public are asked to wear a mask in care settings.
She says masks ‘remain necessary’ to guard against the spread of Covid-19 within healthcare settings. The warning comes on the back of new data which shows that, while seven-day rolling rates are down significantly to where they were two months ago, the virus is still circulating widely in parts of Warwickshire, which accounts for three of the four worst-affected areas in the West Midlands.
The director said: “We are experiencing an increase in incidents of aggressive and threatening behaviours being aimed at our staff as a direct result of our Trust enforcing national NHS mask wearing guidelines. Whilst Covid-19 restrictions have been relaxed outside of healthcare settings, inside a hospital or clinic they remain necessary.
“This is due to the transmissibility of the virus even when people are not displaying any symptoms. Our organisation cares for some of the sickest and most vulnerable people within our community.
“Therefore, we have a responsibility to ask our staff, patients and visitors to wear a face mask on our sites to prevent outbreaks of the virus causing harm to patients and staff shortages. Reasonable adjustments are made for those exempt from wearing a mask.”
She added: “For our staff to face aggressive and intimidatory behaviour whilst carrying out their duties is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Action will be taken against anyone who perpetrates such abuse.”
As of May 17, the seven-day rolling rate in the Stratford council area was 103.77 per 100,000 people, the highest in the West Midlands. Newcastleunder-lyme, in Staffordshire, had the second-highest rate on 94.25 per 100,000 people, followed by Warwick on 93.91 and Nuneaton and Bedworth on 92.39.
Public Health Warwickshire attributed the comparatively high rates in the county to high levels of testing. “The case data based on testing is now very biased and may well appear higher in Warwickshire due to higher testing rates, for those who still have access to tests,” a PHW spokesperson said.
“Warwickshire boroughs and districts are not out of keeping with much of the rest of the country now in terms of positivity rates, which are relatively low and estimated at 2.5 per cent of the population.”
And despite the low number of cases at present, PHW reiterated the importance of wearing masks in certain situations.
“Our key message remains to stay at home and avoid contact with others if you are unwell, wear a face covering in indoor public spaces, ensure good ventilation if you are going to meet others outdoors, and make sure you are fully vaccinated for COVID-19.”