Aggro towards staff will not be tolerated
NHS Lanarkshire has issued a reminder that any form of violence or aggression towards its staff will not be tolerated.
Although the majority of the public continue to show consideration and support in the collective effort to deal with Covid-19, there has been an increase of reports from concerned frontline staff about incidents of hostility from a minority.
Heather Knox, chief executive of NHS Lanarkshire, Ross McGuffie and Val de Souza, chief officers of North and South Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Partnerships, have united in a robust response.
It states:“The majority of the public continue to be very supportive of our staff and we would thank them for that.
“Sadly, however, we are hearing more reports that a minority have been engaging in behaviours and attitude towards some of our staff that is completely unacceptable.
“We have a very clear message to those who would display any form of violent or aggressive behaviour, be it verbal or physical, towards our staff: It never has been tolerated and it will certainly not be tolerated now.
“We are continually working in partnership with local police in the management of aggressive and violent individuals and we will continue to do so.”
The statement adds:“We completely understand this continues to be an extremely challenging and trying time for everyone in Lanarkshire.
“We continue to live with restrictions that mean our current way of life is a world away from where we were as a society pre-Covid.
“Those ongoing challenges have translated to changes in how health, social care and other public services are delivered.
“People of Lanarkshire should be absolutely assured that our staff and partners, despite invariably carrying personal worries and apprehensions of their own, remain resolutely committed to providing the best possible care.
“We are hugely thankful to them for their resilience – as are the vast majority of people who recognise their ongoing efforts and have shown patience and understanding.
“As we continue through the winter months we’d plea to people to keep bearing with us. Crucially, please be kind to our staff who are committed to caring, no matter the circumstances.”
Police are warning residents to take care hill walking and around beauty spots.
Walkers are also being urged to keep in line with government regulations over travel and ensure they are prepared for all eventualities following a number of mountain rescue incidents.
Over the past two months, Police Scotland has received 46 calls to search and rescue incidents.
Six fixed penalty notices have been issued and six people charged with culpable and reckless conduct. The same period last year saw 55 such incidents.
Access to a number of beauty spots has also been restricted by inconsiderate parking and large numbers of people travelling for outdoor recreation.
This has led to increased police patrols.
A Cambuslang couple were arrested earlier this month following two separate incidents.
At around 5.30pm on Sunday, February 7, a 47-year-old woman contacted police to report alleged incidents of domestic abuse between 2006 to 2021.
The woman’s 46-year-old husband was then arrested at their house.
He was interviewed by officers, charged and held custody for court.
At 9.25pm the same evening, officers were carrying out enquiries in relation to the claims when they encountered the woman heavily under the influence of alcohol.
She is accused of becoming extremely abusive to the officers, culminating in her spitting in the eye of one of them.
She was subsequently arrested and held in custody for a court appearance.