Nearly 14,000 assault on NHS staff recorded in 15 months
The Scottish Government is being urged to take action to protect staff
The Scottish Conservatives are urging the “distracted” Health Secretary to put together plans to protect NHS staff from abuse.
Figures obtained by the party found over a 15 month period there were almost 14,000 assaults, which health spokesperson Dr Sandesh Gulhane says is “shocking and shameful”.
According to the data, there were 13,792 attacks on NHS staff recorded between April 2022 and July 2023, however the number may be higher as NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Scotland’s largest health board, did not provide their figures.
Dr Gulhane said: “My thoughts are with my colleagues who have been on the receiving end of these deplorable and sickening assaults.
"Zero-tolerance attitude"
"It's intolerable for any NHS employee to be assaulted in the workplace, and there must be a zero-tolerance attitude towards this sort of behaviour.”
The worst affected health board was NHS Grampian, where more than a third of the total assaults – 5,180 – were reported.
That figure included 2,259 incidents involving "physical abuse, assault or violence" between April 1 2022 and March 31 2023.
The board stressed many of the incidents “are generally due to an underlying clinical condition" resulting in the person having limited control of their behaviour.
The board said more than 70% of incidents involved someone "suffering from an impaired mental state" while 99% were "rated as negligible or minor impact".
13,792 incidents reported in 15 months
They added reports of violence in the north-east of Scotland had reduced by 7% in the past year.
A spokesman for NHS Grampian said: "We do not tolerate this type of behaviour being directed towards any of our staff and take these incidents extremely seriously.
"Unfortunately, on a minority of occasions they are subjected to abuse, aggression and even violence.
“Our staff work extremely hard for our patients and their families every day.”
NHS Lothian was also particularly badly affected, recording 2,099 “adverse events” including assault by patients and fellow staff members.
Criminal charges
Concerns were also raised at the lack of criminal changes brought against the perpetrators, with figures showing just 775 people were charged under the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act over the same period.
The legislation covers all emergency workers, including medical, fire and police staff, and makes it an offence to assault or impede the sector's staff.
Dr Gulhane said: “Many individuals clearly sense they can get away with assaulting NHS workers.
“That must change, which is why the Scottish Conservatives have promised to double the maximum jail sentence for those who assault emergency workers.”
"SNP must urgently outline a plan"
He called on the Scottish Government to take action, saying: “These are the sort of issues that our discredited Health Secretary Michael Matheson needs to focus on, yet instead he's distracted by the scandal over his iPad expenses claim and crucial messaging surrounding the winter period is being completely lost.
"Whether he does the right thing and resigns or clings on, the SNP must urgently outline a plan which will guarantee NHS boards across the country have the resources they need to protect their staff and reduce the number of assaults against them."
A Scottish Government spokesperson said:
“No-one should be the victim of abuse or violence while at work and assaults on NHS staff are completely unacceptable.
"We continue to encourage all NHS organisations to support criminal proceedings against anyone who assaults staff.
“The courts have extensive powers to deal robustly with assaults.
"The Emergency Workers Act includes a penalty of up to 12 months imprisonment, a £10,000 fine, or both, and we have extended the act to include GPs, doctors, nurses and midwives working in the community.”