7000 attacks on NHS workers in last year
Shocking stats reveal scale of abuse frontline heroes face
MORE than 7000 physical attacks were carried out on NHS staff in the past year, shocking stats show.
In the 12 months to the end of October 2021, 7271 incidents of physical were logged across all mainland health boards, alongside 5496 reports of verbal abuse or threats, according to Freedom of Information data.
Some 1071 incidents of physical assault were recorded towards NHS Lothian staff, alongside 266 reports of verbal abuse.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said there were 2479 assaults and threats in the first six months of 2021, with almost 100 attacks following in the first eight days of August.
The Scottish Ambulance Service also recorded 146 physical assaults and 113 incidents of verbal abuse,
Janis Butler, Director of HR at NHS Lothian, said: “We have 32,761 staff working in sites across West Lothian, East Lothian, Edinburgh and Midlothian and we expect all of our employees to be able to deliver health care in an environment free from violence, intimidation and aggression.”
A spokesman for NHS GGC said: “Staff continue to work tirelessly to ensure patients and service users receive the best care, against the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, but are being subjected to
Our staff should not have to fear for their safety A SPOKESMAN FOR AMBULANCE SERVICE
both verbal and physical abuse, while simply trying to do their jobs.
“Several health boards noted that many incidents of abuse are linked to patients with complex conditions.”
NHS Grampian said that incidences of violence and aggression against staff are “generally due to an underassault lying clinical condition meaning that the person may have little control over their behaviour”.
A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesmansaid: “Our staff should not have to fear for their safety when treating patients and keeping them safe is of paramount importance to us”.