‘Zero tolerance’ drive aims to clamp down on assaults on NHS staff

PLANS ANNOUNCED by the Health Secretary to adopt a “zero tolerance” approach to violence against staff have been welcomed.

Matt Hancock, pictured, last night set out a series of measures to protect workers in England as it emerged almost one in eight experienced violence in the last year.

He said it was “unacceptable” health workers had been subjected to violence and aggression as he set out the first NHS Violence Reduction Strategy.

It sets out how NHS staff will be better protected against deliberate attacks and abuse from patients, their families and the public.

A new partnership between the NHS, police and Crown Prosecution Service is designed to ensure that offenders will be prosecuted quickly under a zerotolerance approach, the Department for Health and Social Care said.

Sara Gorton, head of health at the union Unison, said: “No-one should be abused, threatened or attacked at work – especially when all they’re trying to do is help people. “Anyone who threatens or abuses NHS staff should be prosecuted under to the new law protecting health care workers.”

Kim Sunley, of the Royal College of Nursing, said: “Nurses and health care workers understand their roles aren’t riskfree but, to many, it still seems as if the threat of physical violence is a daily reality.

“These measures are another way to change this for good by increasing the accountability of employers for the safety of their staff and ensuring those who wilfully assault healthcare workers feel the full force of the law.”