Northern Ireland health workers experience 5,000 attacks a year

Health workers in Northern Ireland suffered more than 5,000 attacks in the past year, according to the British Medical Association (BMA).

The doctors body said urgent action was needed to resolve the situation.

“Attacks on, threats to, and verbal abuse of doctors and other healthcare workers have to stop,” said Dr Brian Patterson, councillor for BMA Northern Ireland.

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He said the association was launching a campaign to ascertain the level and nature of violence against health workers in Northern Ireland.

“It’s only when people realise they’ll face a custodial sentence if they attack doctors and other healthcare workers that an end will be in sight,” he said.