NHS staff were safer at work during 2017-18

NHS staff endured fewer assaults between April 2017 and April 2018 than they did the year before – but latest figures suggest the downward trend has not continued.

There were 249 reports of assaults on medical staff between April 2017 and April 2018, according to Leicester Hospitals.

This is a 24 per cent reduction on the year before, when there were 353 reports of assault.

However, figures for next year project a slightly more negative out- come.

“Disappointingly, the picture so far for 2018/19 does not represent a similar downward trend,” said Nick Howlett, health and safety services manager at Leicester’s Hospitals.

“There were 76 assaults reported in the first eight months and if the trend continues we predict there will be a slight increase on physical assaults compared with last year.”

However, he said the improvements compared with 2016-17 “shows our commitment to tackling a very serious issue”.

Mr Howlett said: “In 2017/18 we saw a marked improvement in the total number compared to the previous year.

“We saw a 24 per cent reduction in reported physical assaults not involving underlying medical factors. The amount of criminal and civil sanctions increased from 12 to 22 in the same period.

“This has been the result of excel- lent close working between our security teams, staff, improved training and our partners in the wider local NHS, social care and Leicestershire Police.

“Unfortunately, we are not able to benchmark against other similarsized trusts now there is no requirement to report these figures to any NHS national body.”

NHS staff includes professions such as paramedics from East Midlands Ambulance Service, nurses, doctors and many others.

Howlett said: “We take all threats against our staff very seriously and will not tolerate disruptive, insulting or violent behaviour.

“We have the ability to use a range of sanctions on those patients and/ or visitors who repeatedly display violent or disruptive behaviour.

“Ultimately, in the case of patients, this has led to referral for treatment elsewhere (except when emergency treatment is required) and for visitors means exclusion from our sites.

“We also welcome the introduction of the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018 which came into force this year.

“This potentially doubles the sentence for assaults against our staff.”