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Hospital staff under attack

Adam Derbyshire
30/12/2003

VIOLENCE against staff at Tameside Hospital has risen to its highest level since records began, it has emerged.

Doctors and nurses are now more likely to come under attack from angry patients than ever before - according to new figures.

In response, NHS chiefs have launched a zero tolerance policy, vowing to crackdown on anyone who steps out of line.

Employees have been told to call the police immediately should they fall victim to any kind of aggressive behaviour.

Philip Dylak, director of nursing, said: "No one should go to work facing the fear of being attacked. Hospital staff have a difficult enough job to do already. It's worrying to think the people they are trying to help are the ones that pose the most danger.

"Sadly it seems indicative of the society we live in. The majority of the problems still occur in casualty, but staff have reported incidents on a number of wards too.

"One of the reasons the figures are so high is that we are now encouraging staff to report every single incident, no matter how minor.

"In the past some things may have been swept under the carpet, but not anymore. By collating all the information, we can then investigate the causes and beef up security in the areas worst affected.

"The safety of employees and other patients is of paramount impotance. Anyone threatening to, or caught using, violence will be arrested and prosecuted.

"Rest assured, we will be looking for convictions and strong punishments."