Caring for the carers: staff safety is part of patient safety in the NHS (5 February 2026)

Summary

When we look at the many published patient safety reports the focus is often on the patient and safeguarding their interests. This is to be expected, but it is only a part of a much larger picture. When a patient is injured through an adverse incident there will also be an emotional impact on the health professional involved. The fact that a patient has suffered harm in their care is at odds with what they set out to do. The incident will be devastating for the health professional, and they will also need support.

In this article for the British Journal of Nursing, John Tingle, Associate Professor, Birmingham Law School, University of Birmingham, considers recent reports looking at violence against healthcare staff and the adverse impact of corridor care on NHS employees.