Rising attacks on NHS staff in Newcastle
The number of “abhorrent” attacks on NHS heroes in Newcastle has jumped as dedicated hospital staff battle against Covid, shocking figures have revealed.
Hospital workers in the city have been subjected to more than 900 physical or verbal assaults over the past 12 months, an increase of around 17% since pre-pandemic times, according to latest statistics.
The rise in aggression towards Newcastle’s tireless healthcare teams has been described as “totally unacceptable” by the Royal College of Nursing and was also condemned by the British Medical Association (BMA).
According to most recent figures presented to the Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust’s board of directors this week, there were 914 incidents of physical and verbal aggression against staff by patients, visitors or relatives between July 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021.
The trust’s annual health and safety report also shows a jump from 783 incidents in the 2019/20 to 885 in 2020/21, with bosses indicating that there had been a particular increase in physical assaults on emergency department staff.
The latest figures come amid warnings that the Royal Victoria Infirmary and Freeman Hospital have been under the most intense pressure of the entire pandemic, with “unprecedented” demand for A&E services adding to strain caused by a rise in Covid infections and large numbers of staff self-isolating over recent weeks.
Glenn Turp, director of the Royal College of Nursing’s Northern region, said: “It is totally unacceptable for staff to feel unsafe at work. The number of incidents reported during 2020/21 is simply shocking.
“NHS staff are working tirelessly to deal with the backlog of care created by the pandemic and look after Covid-19 patients during a third wave. Staff are overstretched and under enormous pressure at work. High patient demand, combined with an acute UK-wide shortage of nurses and the impact of staff having to self-isolate is exacerbating an already challenging and difficult situation in many trusts.”
Hospital chiefs in Northumberland also spoke out against a rise in attacks on their staff last year, while North East ambulance crews have too reported an increase in abuse and violence towards them.
Angela O’Brien, Newcastle Hospitals’ director of quality and effectiveness, told Thursday’s board meeting she was “concerned” about the increase in violence and aggression which had particularly occurred around lockdown periods.
She added: “A lot of that has been alcohol related and the impact socially of isolation and the increase in drug addiction and alcohol-related admissions to ED (Emergency Department), which the security staff have found quite challenging. We have tried to support them in every way we can in terms of conflict resolution, de-escalation techniques, and restraint training and practice.”
However, Ms O’Brien reported that the huge pressure of ED currently had not produced a similarly massive increase in violent incidents – nor had the reopening of bars and clubs as lockdown measures were lifted.
Dr David Wrigley, deputy chair of council at the BMA, said: “There is little doubt that the pandemic, a huge backlog of patients needing treatment, coupled with chronic under-staffing and long working hours, and the pressures these impose on patients and doctors, contribute to stressful situations across all healthcare settings.
“However, no-one should feel unsafe at work and we condemn individuals who resort to violence and assault, both physical and verbal.”
Coun John Paul-Stephenson, Newcastle City Council’s cabinet member for public health and neighbourhoods, added that “any act of violence or aggression towards a health worker is abhorrent and must be stamped out immediately”.
The Labour councillor added: “Since the start of the pandemic every member of staff in our hospitals has been on the front line in the battle against the virus, they have saved countless lives, put themselves in danger and shown incredible courage and unwavering commitment to each and every resident in Newcastle. The fact that people see fit to be violent or abusive towards them is unacceptable.
“At the start of the pandemic we stood shoulder to shoulder with our neighbours to clap for carers, every Thursday our city was a chorus of noise and applause as we showed our support for the incredible workers. I know the majority of people in Newcastle will continue to show their gratitude for our health and social care staff and will join me in condemning any act of violence or abusive behaviour towards them.”
The hospital trust’s figures state that the rate of assaults on staff had actually dropped from 16 per 1,000 employees in 2019/20 to 14 for 2020/21, though that this is skewed by the fact that the trust has employed a significant number of people since the start of the pandemic to work in the region’s Lighthouse Lab testing facility, Covid research, and other new services.