Violence to health staff up by 46%

NEW figures have revealed a huge increase in cases of aggressive behaviour towards NHS Tayside staff.

The figures, released in response to a freedom of information inquiry, showed there were 926 cases of verbal or physical aggression towards staff in 2014/15.

That rose to 985 the following year but then rocketed to 1,438 incidents in 2016/17 — a 46% increase.

Norman Provan, Royal College of Nurses Scotland associate director, said: “Nurses should not have to put up with verbal or physical assaults from those they are caring for or their families. All health boards have a duty of care to protect their staff from attack.”

In 2016/17 there were 642 cases of physical aggression by a patient or visitor and 404 incidents of verbal aggression.

In addition, there were 392 cases of aggressive behaviour where the nature was not specified.

NHS Tayside director of human resources George Doherty said: “NHS Tayside vigorously enforces a zero tolerance policy to any kind of violence, both physical and verbal.”