Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Latest NewsHealth and safetyHR practiceWellbeingOccupational Health

NHS urged to take tougher stance against violence against staff

by Mike Berry 11 Apr 2008
by Mike Berry 11 Apr 2008

Employers in the NHS have been warned to up their game in tackling staff violence, bullying and abuse, after research showed little or no progress had been made over the past 12 months.

Unions representing health service managers, nurses and other workers said action was needed after the 2007 NHS staff survey revealed that 13% had experienced physical violence from patients or their relatives – the same as in 2006. Just two-thirds of those who suffered an attack reported it.

Workers in ambulance and mental health trusts endured the most attacks, with 29% of ambulance crews and 22% of mental health workers admitting to being victims of violence.

Peter Carter, general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, said the number of attacks on NHS staff remained “worryingly high”. He called on the government to make good its pledge to provide extra cash for staff training to help tackle violence, as well as towards buying safety alarms for lone workers.

“Employers, the police service and the justice system must take tough action against those who assault NHS staff, including prosecuting perpetrators,” Carter said. Unison said the level of violence was “disturbing” and urgent action needed to stem the attacks.

Patients and their relatives were responsible for attacks on 26% of health service staff – a drop of just 2% over the previous year. Bullying by managers affected 8% of staff, while 13% had been harassed by other colleagues.

Jon Restell, chief executive of union Managers in Partnership, said healthcare trusts should take the results “very seriously” as “46% of respondents did not feel their trust tackled bullying effectively.

He added: “Staff who feel bullied or ignored in decision making can not deliver high quality services.”

Alastair Henderson, acting director of NHS Employers, which represents trusts on workforce issues, admitted more needed to be done.

Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

OptOut
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

“Building on our recent campaign to help trusts tackle bullying, we will work with NHS trade unions to understand more clearly why some perform better than others in this area,” he said.

NHS staff survey in numbers

  • 155,922 – number of respondents
  • 13% – victims of violence at work
  • 22% – felt communication between staff and management was effective
  • 73% – take advantage of flexible working
  • 61% – received an appraisal
  • 26% – thought their employer valued their work
  • 94% – took part in some form of training



Mike Berry

previous post
Flybe launches recruitment drive to boost its expanding business
next post
Half of contact centres still discount home working

You may also like

Fire and rehire: the relocation question

22 May 2025

Public sector workers gain pay rises of up...

22 May 2025

UK net migration slashed by half in one...

22 May 2025

How neuroscience can unlock employee recognition

22 May 2025

UK universities fret over fall in international students

22 May 2025

HSBC employees warned of office attendance link to...

22 May 2025

The Law Society: Navigating the new world of...

22 May 2025

Workplace stress: Why it’s time to rebrand resilience

22 May 2025

Restaurant tips should be included in holiday pay

21 May 2025

Fewer workers would comply with a return-to-office mandate

21 May 2025

  • 2025 Employee Communications Report PROMOTED | HR and leadership...Read more
  • The Majority of Employees Have Their Eyes on Their Next Move PROMOTED | A staggering 65%...Read more
  • Prioritising performance management: Strategies for success (webinar) WEBINAR | In today’s fast-paced...Read more
  • Self-Leadership: The Key to Successful Organisations PROMOTED | Eletive is helping businesses...Read more
  • Retaining Female Talent: Four Ways to Reduce Workplace Drop Out PROMOTED | International Women’s Day...Read more

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today