5,500 attacks on NI healthcare staff in just six months
Last updated 15th Dec 2021
Incidence levels of assaults on health care staff across Northern Ireland are rocketing with more than 5.500 attacks in just six months.
Shock new figures from the Department of Health show that more than 80% of the incidents were physical attacks.
They include spitting, scratching and other physical violence as well as verbal abuse which has included threats and intimidation.
The attacks have been on staff across the health service spectrum.
As a result, in an "unprecedented" move, the 17 chairs of Northern Ireland's health bodies and the Fire and Rescue Service have united in a 'Support our Staff' campaign, calling on politicians to take action.
Peter McNaney, Chair of the HSC Chairs' Forum, explained:
“We are appalled by the increase in the levels of violence towards staff who are already exhausted and continuing to care for people in very difficult conditions," he said. "This is beyond intolerable.
"We will discuss concerns with Minister (Robin) Swann and today we will invite him to support our call to Stop the Abuse. There are a wide range of social factors that contribute to this issue and this will require a multiagency response -including courts, policing, and the voluntary community sector.
“Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, the vast majority of people in Northern Ireland have recognised the extraordinary efforts of HSC staff. As our staff put themselves at risk to care for the most vulnerable in society during the first lockdown, the public took to their doorsteps to Clap for our Carers.”
“We have heard too many reports of ambulance staff facing intimidation, receptionists at hospitals receiving verbal abuse, and doctors and nurses being threatened and even physically assaulted.
“In the Ambulance Service alone, over 600 incidents of violence and aggression towards staff were recorded in the last year. In my own Trust in Belfast, we recorded over 2,500 physical assaults over a six-month period - a 21% increase on the previous year.”
Mr Swann said he took abuse towards staff "extremely seriously", describing it as "wholly unacceptable".
"Everyone has the right to feel safe from the threat of violence and aggression in the workplace," he said.
"Staff spend their working days caring for others and saving lives, and their safety should be paramount.
"It is wholly unacceptable that they should be abused or attacked in the course of their duties."
Mr Swann said he is committed to reducing the risk of violence and aggression wherever possible and creating a safe environment for staff, patients and others who use the services.
"Unfortunately we are seeing a rise in numbers of attacks and we must all as a society reject such despicable behaviour and protect our frontline staff and services," he said.
"They are already facing unprecedented pressures and need our support now more than ever."
Each health and social care trust operates a local Zero Tolerance on Abuse of Staff policy to manage and minimise the risk to employees.
The policies aim to ensure that all staff are aware of, and are protected from, as far as is reasonably practical, violent or potentially violent situations that may occur within trust facilities and/or whilst staff are on duty.
Trusts have established a regional Zero Tolerance Task and Finish Group which has been working in collaboration with a range of key stakeholders to develop a regional Managing Violence and Aggression policy framework.