Patient aggression up by a fifth despite trust’s interventions

A hospital trust, which has already implemented a series of safety measures to protect employees, has reported a 17% rise in incidents of abuse against staff by patients and the public in the last year. 

Data from the Oxford University Hospital’s clinical incident system, shared with HSJ, shows there were 1,181 cases of violence and aggression against staff in 2022, up from 1,003 in 2021.

Before late 2021, the monthly incident rate very rarely hit 100, while since January 2022 it has topped 100 in seven months, including 162 and 131 incidents respectively in January and February this year.

The ongoing growth is despite the trust launching a campaign, called “No Excuses”, in January 2022,. Measures include bodyworn cameras, and safety devices with alarms and positioning technology for lone workers. 

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Source: HSJ, 16 May 2023