Search the hub
Showing results for tags 'Violence/ abuse'.
Found 55 results
-
Content ArticleOne in three women and girls in the UK experience physical or sexual violence during their lifetime. The NHS has more contact with victims and perpetrators than any other public service. Yet the uncomfortable truth is that many women and girls who seek help from the health service do not receive the right support. The government and expert organisations supporting victims and survivors say there should be no wrong front door for those seeking help. In reality, it can feel like there is no right door.
-
News ArticleRacist abuse of NHS nurses has jumped by 86% in the last few years, which their union’s boss has blamed on the normalisation of extreme views in politics and the media. One nurse was called a monkey by a colleague, a patient threw a hot drink at a nurse and followed up with racial abuse, and in several cases others were called the N-word, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) disclosed. In other examples, a patient’s family told a nurse they did not want black people looking after their daughter, and a fellow NHS worker shouted at a nurse: “We don’t have people of your colour here.” Nurses across the UK reported 6,812 incidents last year in which they suffered racist abuse, NHS figures show, a big rise on the 3,652 incidents recorded in 2022. However, it is unclear how many were reported to the police or led to any action being taken, such as a perpetrator being told to seek treatment from a different care provider. The RCN warned that poor recording of such abuse by the health service, and reluctance among many nurses to report it, meant the figures – which it obtained from NHS trusts and health boards under freedom of information (FOI) – were only “the tip of the iceberg”. The findings are the latest evidence of what Kate Jarman, the director of corporate affairs at Milton Keynes university hospital trust, last week called “a rising tide of racism” washing over the NHS making it unsafe for some staff. Read full story Source: The Guardian, 19 May 2026
-
News Article
Motivation gap grows between bank and substantive staff
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
NHS bank staff motivation and engagement have increased in a new national survey, in contrast to falling scores among other colleagues. The results also revealed a widening gap between the proportion who look forward to work and are enthusiastic about their job, compared to their peers. The 2025 staff survey for bank workers showed motivation rose slightly to just under 7.5 out of 10. This fell to below 6.9 – the worst score in recent years – for substantive staff in results released last month. The overall engagement score – which also covers involvement and advocacy – had a small rise to 6.93 for bank staff last year, compared to a historic low of 6.75 reported by substantive staff. The results showed bank staff were more likely to look forward to going to work at 67% of respondents compared to 52% of substantive staff, with the gap in scores over 3 percentage points wider than in 2023. However, nearly one in four bank-only workers said they had experienced physical violence within the past 12 months, which has declined slightly from 25% the year before. This is still significantly higher than the 15% reported by their substantive colleagues and varied by ethnic background. The report said: “For female white bank workers, the proportion experiencing violence at work from patients or the public has decreased compared to last year and, at 22%, is at a three-year low. “The proportion of male white workers experiencing at least one incident of physical violence from patients or the public has also decreased, whereas male workers from all other ethnic groups have seen an increase in experiences of violence this year, with more than three in ten … experiencing such behaviour in 2025.” Read full story (paywalled) Source: HSJ, 27 April 2026 -
News Article
Shocking survey reveals pharmacy staff facing ‘escalating abuse’ from patients
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Pharmacy staff across the UK are enduring "escalating abuse" from patients, including racist attacks, verbal assaults and physical violence, a new survey has revealed. The findings from Community Pharmacy England indicate that around one in five pharmacy owners report verbal abuse as a daily occurrence. The organisation is now urging for enhanced protection for these frontline healthcare workers, alongside the implementation of a zero-tolerance policy towards any form of violence or threats. A poll of 289 pharmacy owners, collectively representing over 3,000 pharmacies, found that more than half (55%) had experienced verbal abuse within the last six months. Of these, three-quarters faced such incidents weekly, with approximately one in five (21%) reporting daily occurrences. Respondents detailed a range of discriminatory abuse directed at staff, including racist, religious, sexist, misogynistic, homophobic, and xenophobic remarks. One particularly stark account described a patient refusing service from a pharmacist wearing a headscarf. A poll of 289 pharmacy owners, collectively representing over 3,000 pharmacies, found that more than half (55%) had experienced verbal abuse within the last six months. Of these, three-quarters faced such incidents weekly, with approximately one in five (21%) reporting daily occurrences. Respondents detailed a range of discriminatory abuse directed at staff, including racist, religious, sexist, misogynistic, homophobic, and xenophobic remarks. One particularly stark account described a patient refusing service from a pharmacist wearing a headscarf. While less frequent, physical assaults were reported by 6% of pharmacies over the same six-month period. These incidents ranged from strangulation and pushing to punching, with some attacks even occurring after closing hours. Pharmacy owners recounted instances of knife attacks, chairs being thrown at staff, and pharmacists being strangled by patients who had come behind the counter. Read full story Source: The Independent, 26 March 2026 -
EventuntilWorkplace violence is an everyday reality for too many nurses. Recent surveys show that more than six in ten nurses and midwives in the UK have been attacked in the past year, with incidents ranging from verbal abuse to serious physical assault. The impact on personal wellbeing, morale, and the ability to provide safe patient care cannot be overstated. This webinar will shine a light on the lived experiences of nurses who have faced violence, explore the latest evidence on prevalence and risk factors, and share practical tools to improve safety and resilience in practice. Through expert insight, case studies, and open discussion, you will gain a deeper understanding of how violence can be addressed at both individual and organisational levels. Join colleagues from across the profession to hear real stories and take away strategies to support yourself, your team & your patients. Register
-
EventuntilNHS Resolution Safety and Learning team will be hosting the next quarterly National Mental Health Networking forum, a national event designed to support networking, collaboration and the sharing of best practice. This is the second in a three-part series exploring mental health care across the system starting with crisis and emergency departments, followed by inpatient safer care and concluding with community support and recovery. This quarterly event will bring together voices from across the system to drive national collaboration, sharing learning and continous improvement in mental health care. This session will spotlight inpatient care and services, with a focus on: Trauma Informed Care Reducing restrictive interventions Workplace Violence and aggression Updates to the Mental Health Act You will hear from NHS England Quality Transformation Team, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, NHS Resolution Safety and Learning Team, legal experts, and a lived experience ambassador. Register
-
News Article
Hundreds of thousands of NHS staff in England attacked and harassed, survey shows
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Hundreds of thousands of NHS staff have been attacked, harassed, bullied, or subject to racism, latest NHS figures show. The health service’s 2025 staff survey found that one in seven had experienced violence from patients or the public, while more than a quarter reported harassment, bullying and abuse, the highest levels in three years. Given that the NHS in England employs 1.5 million people, this would equate to about 217,000 experiencing violence and more than 380,000 reporting harassment and bullying in 2025 alone. Sexual harassment has also reached record levels, the figures show. Nearly 1 in 10 NHS workers, a third of ambulance staff and more than one in 10 nurses and midwives said they had experienced unwanted sexual behaviour in the past year. But underreporting is still a problem, the survey found. While three-quarters said they would report violent incidents, barely half said they would report harassment or abuse. The staff survey also unveils the extent of racism and discrimination. One in five Black and minority ethnic staff reported abuse, bullying or harassment from patients or the public, compared with just 1 in 20 white staff. Read full story Source: The Guardian, 13 March 2026 Further reading on the hub: Patient Safety Learning’s response to the NHS Staff Survey Results 2025 -
News Article
Victims of mental health violence ‘left in dark under new bill’
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Bereaved families and victims of mental health-related violence will continue to be “left in the dark” under planned laws which allow hospitals to withhold information about patients, charities have warned. The victims’ commissioner has also expressed concern that the government is missing an important opportunity to redress the balance towards victims, who she said already faced barriers to getting “even the most basic information” about offenders. The Victims and Courts Bill, being debated in the Lords, places the onus on hospital managers to decide “as they consider appropriate” how much information about mentally ill perpetrators is passed to victims and families. In the past, victims have been distressed to discover that homicide perpetrators were released back into the community, and sometimes in close proximity, without their knowledge. The Nottingham public inquiry has shown how clinicians were reluctant to pass information to police and other authorities about a man diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia who killed three people in June 2023. Julian Hendy, of the charity Hundred Families, which campaigns for transparency and awareness of mental health-related violence, said victims and their families were not often given important information such as being notified when perpetrators applied for day release. He said that the rights and protections of victims in cases where perpetrators received hospital orders needed to be brought into line with cases where offenders were imprisoned and more information was readily available. Read full story (paywalled) Source: The Times, 10 March 2026 -
Content ArticleWhen 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.
-
News Article
‘Cover-ups’ leave staff scared to report sexual safety concerns
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
A trust’s staff “fear raising concerns about attitudes, behaviours and sexual safety”, particularly about senior managers and doctors, a review by NHS England has found. Black Country Healthcare Foundation Trust’s “Freedom to Speak Up” arrangements have been reviewed by NHSE, following a series of cultural concerns and the departure of multiple senior directors. The review, published in board papers this month, said: “We consistently heard that staff feel that ‘cover-ups’ take place and raising a concern sometimes feels like ‘reporting a friend to a friend’.” Staff gave recent examples of where they had experienced, or seen others experience, “disadvantageous and demeaning treatment” after raising concerns. Examples of this included inconsistent application of HR policies such as annual leave and flexible working to disadvantage the person raising concerns, unkind and unprofessional behaviour by senior staff members such as ignoring individuals, and not including them in conversations. Others said they did not want to raise concerns for fear of detriment, such as bank staff members who thought they would not be given shifts. Some staff felt as if they had a “target on their back” after speaking up. Read full story (paywalled) Source: HSJ, 10 February 2026 Related reading on the hub: Speaking up for patient safety interview series -
News Article
My mentally unwell son killed his father. Then the NHS failed us
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Tricia Monro places two thick folders on the table with pages of psychiatric evaluations, timelines and dozens of emails asking for help for her son. For years she had been trying to catch him as he fell through the cracks of the mental health system. She had been warned not to be alone with him, but relented when he asked to have a bath at her house in Hampshire in February last year. What she did not know was that he had just fatally stabbed her ex-husband, Peter, 73. She said she still “cannot believe” how the tragedy has torn her family apart. “I don’t for a moment excuse what he has done, and I accept that he has to be punished,” she said, adding: “It’s a very lonely place being the parent of a child whose mental health has been deteriorating.” In December Christopher “Kit” Monro, 30, of Oxford, was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum 12-year term for the murder of his father. The family believe it could have been prevented if NHS Oxford mental health services and other authorities had better heeded their pleas for help. Instead, his mother says she was left in the dark about issues concerning her own safety and felt failed by those in charge of his care. Their intervention comes as a public inquiry into the Nottingham attacks in 2023 by Valdo Calocane continues to expose severe failings in the care of dangerous psychiatric patient. A report commissioned after the murder depicts Monro’s mother as “reluctant” to become involved in her son’s care. She is appalled by that characterisation, detailing her repeated attempts to warn the NHS about Monro’s mental state. “I was anxious, and a lot of times uncomfortable, but I stepped in because there was no one else,” she said. Monro's sister Lara described attempts to blame her mother, 70, who works for a charity, as “diabolical”. She said: “There was a series of red flags raised in the lead-up to this tragedy. My brother was let down by those whose job it was to support him.” Read full story (paywalled) Source: The Times, 29 March 2026 -
News ArticleA Guardian call-out to NHS staff in England to share their experiences of violence in hospitals has revealed that doctors, nurses, paramedics and managers are being overwhelmed by a torrent of physical assaults and sexual abuse by patients. Most respondents said they had little faith in the NHS to tackle the scale and severity of this abuse, which included being attacked with weapons, including knives and chairs. Many staff felt there was no point in reporting physical or sexual harm because perpetrators faced no real comeback from the NHS or the police. Read full story Source: Guardian, 10 January 2026
-
News Article
The unsolved murder on a hospital ward that shames the NHS
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Valerie Kneale was chatting away, sitting upright in her hospital bed, when her family left her behind on the ward. Hours before, the 75-year-old grandmother had been admitted to Blackpool Victoria Hospital in Lancashire in November 2018 after suffering a stroke while eating her dinner. But she appeared to have made a remarkable recovery. Her husband and two children were assured by hospital staff that they could go home and she would be looked after overnight. The next morning, Mrs Kneale’s family returned to discover that she had slipped into a coma. She died three days later. The post-mortem examination revealed that she had been sexually assaulted while on the ward, where entry was controlled by key card, with such force that it had caused severe, fatal blood loss. Lancashire Constabulary immediately started a murder investigation but seven years on, the force has stopped searching for who was responsible for attacking Mrs Kneale. Her death – and the failure to find a culprit – is but one tragedy in a hospital that appears to be out of control. A weeks-long Telegraph investigation has uncovered a litany of failures at Blackpool Victoria: Eight other deaths on the stroke ward in 2018 are being investigated, “Corrupt” nurses were jailed for drugging patients to keep them compliant, Powerful medicines went missing, A heart surgeon was imprisoned for groping the breasts and bottoms of female colleagues, Doctors shared sexist jokes in WhatsApp groups called “cardiac sluts” and “work slags”. With no one held accountable for the deaths and a police investigation into corporate failings at the stroke unit still ongoing after two years, the families of several victims told The Telegraph that only a public inquiry could answer their questions. Read full story (paywalled) Source: The Telegraph, 6 November 2025 -
Content Article
Safety For All: 2024 conference report
Mark Hughes posted an article in Improving patient safety
This report provides an overview of keynote speeches and panel sessions at the third annual Safety For All Conference at the Royal College of Physicians in London on Tuesday 10 December 2024 The Safety For All campaign is focused on driving improvements in and between healthcare worker safety and patient safety. It seeks to highlight how poor staff safety standards and practice impact adversely on patient safety, and vice versa. The campaign champions the need for a systematic and integrated approach to improve safety for staff and patients across health and social care. Safety For All is jointly coordinated by the Safer Healthcare and Biosafety Network and Patient Safety Learning, supported by Boston Scientific and Stryker. The event was chaired by Professor Rob Galloway, Accident and Emergency Consultant at the University Hospitals Sussex NHS Trust. It was attended by over 100 members of the healthcare community, including occupational health professionals, patient safety experts, frontline staff, patients and academics. The report includes summaries of the conference’s speeches by: Professor Nicola Ranger, Chief Executive of the Royal College of Nursing Jane Murkin, Deputy Director Safety and Improvement – Nursing Directorate at NHS England. It also provides an overview of the following panel sessions across the day: Protecting lives while protecting the planet. Navigating the many faces of violence in healthcare. Caring for caregivers and patients – Mental health and safety in healthcare. Antimicrobial Resistance – Ensuring patient safety in an era of rising resistance. Implementing the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework. Throughout the speeches and panel discussions that ran across the day, there were several recurring themes: The important role of leadership in improving staff safety and patient safety. This being cited as the key to creating safer organisational cultures, modelling safety behaviours and advocating on behalf of patients and staff. The need for healthcare workers and patients to speak up in order to create a safer healthcare system, and the challenges of empowering staff to do this and organisations to create safety cultures in a system under significant strain. Communication and engagement is key – with staff and patients, and in convening people so they can collaborate for safety. Listening was mentioned throughout as being seen as a luxury, but it is essential to providing person-centred care. The challenge of sharing and spreading patient and staff safety initiatives when healthcare workers don't have time/capacity beyond trying to do the day job. -
Content Article
Barts Health NHS Trust #WorkWithoutFear
Patient Safety Learning posted an article in Staff safety
There has been a lot of commentary recently about the “broken” NHS. One can only imagine how broken it would be if 65% of staff left the NHS because of the verbal abuse they faced at work. Yet this is the reality. Across the country, staff across the NHS are verbally, physically and sexually assaulted every single day. This abuse stays with them when they go home, and when they return to work the next day. The latest campaign at Barts Health NHS Trust reinforces that violence and abuse will not be tolerated in our hospitals by shining a light on some of the names our people have been called. Internally, our campaign encourages staff to report the incidents they experience and to break the normalisation that happens when something becomes routine. Click on the video above to view or watch on YouTube. -
Content ArticleLeading researcher, developer, and former director of the Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES), and prominent author of guidance on race equality in the NHS, Roger Kline, has published a new report: Racist riots and the NHS: What next? Building on his previous publications, the paper explains how little robust steps were offered to NHS practices during the riots, exposing the persistent failure of NHS leaders to deal with racism in the institution and amongst its leadership. During the riots, health and care workers were targeted physically and on social media. Despite these numerous attacks, Kline underscores the lack of concrete support provided by national bodies during the crisis and the subsequent inaction from leadership to take the necessary steps to respond to the events. Kline calls out the riots as a ‘jolt to the system’ – but not a one off incident, rather the riots were examples of exceptional crises following years of mounting evidence that more must be done to address racism within Britain and the NHS.
-
Content Article
Amanda Wynn is an independent consultant, researcher and trainer based in Cambridgeshire, specialising in older and disabled survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence. In this blog, Amanda talks about her recent research into sexual assaults against older people by hospital staff. She shares an overview of her findings and calls for greater awareness and support. Motivated by a patient death I undertook my first research into sexual assaults against older people by hospital staff in 2021, after reading about the horrific case of an older patient who died from internal haemorrhaging due to severe vaginal injuries. A member of staff was arrested on suspicion of rape, but ultimately was not charged. I found it staggering that more people weren't aware of what happened to this lady. After placing a post saying as much on social media, I received messages indicating that this wasn't the isolated case I assumed it was. I was curious to know how often older people in hospital are being sexually assaulted by staff - people in positions of trust who should be caring for patients. So, I decided to find out for myself. The findings: increasing numbers, bias and poor support As I don't receive any funding for my research, I had to rely on freedom of information (FOI) requests to get data from NHS England trusts. I looked at the number of incidents reported to staff and recorded on the hospital’s incident system over a 5 year period, from 2016/17 to 2020/21 (financial years). My first paper highlighted at least 75 incidents of sexual assault against patients aged 60+ in NHS Hospitals in England, where the alleged perpetrator was a member of staff. I was surprised by the numbers but also at the responses to the follow-up questions I asked about support for these survivors. In the vast majority of cases, there was no referral to specialist services. Only 21% (16) of the incidents recorded were reported to police. Of these 16, all but two had ‘no further action’ taken. I don’t have the data on how the other two progressed so it is unclear whether any convictions were made. I was keen to review the data to see if anything had changed, so I undertook a similar research project in early 2024. This time, the number of reported incidents was much higher over a shorter reporting period (at least 274 incidents over three years). Once again, the number of victims being referred to Sexual Assault Referral Centres or specialist support was very low. Responses to both sets of FOI requests included anecdotal comments from professionals making worrying assumptions about the reliability of people with dementia when disclosing sexual assault. It was also interesting to note that male victims in reported incidents had a higher prevalence than male victims of sexual assault in general - potentially highlighting an increased risk of sexual assaults against older men in hospital. Limited data but a sad fundamental truth Due to lack of funding for my research, I was able to merely touch the surface and report only quantitative data. That means I am unable to determine if the increase in the number of reported incidents is due to more sexual assaults against older people happening. Or if improved reporting and data recording methods can account, either fully or partially, for the increase. However, what is clear is that older patients in hospital are at risk of sexual assault from the very people who should be assuring their well-being and safety. Opportunity for positive change to reduce harm The main aim of my research is to raise awareness of the issue among front-line professionals. Whilst this can include the potential perpetrators, most will be the people who are best placed to stop such incidents, and to ensure an appropriate response when an incident is reported. NHS England has strengthened its approach to domestic abuse and sexual violence in recent years with duties placed on staff to record and report incidents. There may still be some complacency about how genuine patient reports are though, and therefore less emphasis on support. It's also important for both health care staff and the general public to be aware that sexual assaults in hospital do happen. More awareness of the issue will hopefully lead to more survivors being able to disclose and getting the right support when they do. I would like to develop some training for health and social care staff around responding to disclosures of sexual assault and violence from older people - this will likely be in an eLearning format - but I am keen for access to the training to be free. Too much essential knowledge sits behind paywalls making it prohibitive for the target audience to access. I have the content, but if anyone can help with a platform for hosting and developing online training it would be great to hear! You can contact me at [email protected] if you would like to hear more about my research or the online training. Hopes for the future I would like all health and social care workers to be much more aware of sexual assault against older people - not just in hospitals but in care homes and the community too. Funding for services needs research and data to back it up - my research only touches the edge of the issue and it would be great if more research and eventually specialist support for older survivors of sexual violence can lead on from it. I’d just like to add that I'm really grateful to Hourglass for publishing my research to help get the word out as wide as possible. And, of course, to Patient Safety Learning for giving me the opportunity to share the findings too. Related reading Sexual violence and assault against older people in NHS hospitals in England (2024) Doctors practising despite sexual assault and rape allegations Hundreds of social care residents allegedly sexually assaulted, watchdog reveals Share your insights If you would like to comment on this article or any of the articles published on the hub, please sign up here (for free) and contribute your thoughts and insights below. If you'd like to write about a patient safety issue, experience or improvement project, please read our guide to writing a blog, or contact the editorial team at [email protected].- Posted
- 1 comment
-
- (and 3 more)
-
Content ArticleNHS England has launched this new policy and supporting assurance framework for integrated care boards and trusts to adopt and adapt, ensuring that any member of staff who has experienced inappropriate and/or harmful sexual behaviours at work is supported by their employer. It will help staff to: understand their rights and responsibilities recognise and report sexual misconduct at work get advice and support. An overview of the policy is also available. Alongside the policy is a new e-learning resource, designed to equip people working and learning in the NHS with the knowledge and skills to recognise and respond to sexual misconduct.
-
Content ArticleThis report, produced by NHS Resolution in collaboration with the Social Partnership Forum and NHS England amongst others, reveals the higher-than-average risk of experiencing workplace violence for those working within the NHS. To protect our staff and clinicians, who together represent one of the most valuable assets of the NHS, and to ensure that we are able to continue providing high quality, safe care for patients, every effort must be made to prevent and reduce workplace violence.
-
Content ArticleIdentifying and standardising how healthcare systems and regulators measure violence against health care workers can help predict, prevent, and address such incidents. The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Innovation team recently completed a 90-day research cycle to draft a framework that health systems might use to create reliable prediction and response systems to reduce physical violence and improve safety of the healthcare workforce. It completed a literature scan of existing approaches and frameworks and conducted key informant and expert interviews with approximately thirty experts at 19 healthcare organisations. Figure 1. Keeping the Health Care Workforce Safe from Violence Driver Diagram (IHI, 2023).
-
News ArticleA senior nurse was struck off over allegations of sexual assault and harassment, after a colleague reported him to a regulator when a hospital refused to refer her case. The colleague, also an NHS nurse, first raised a complaint against Niyi Okegbola with managers at South London and Maudsley NHS Hospital four years ago, alleging he sexually assaulted her on trust premises. But after an 18-month investigation, the colleague, Holly*, was told the case against Mr Okegbola “did not meet the threshold”, and he would be returning to work. She then referred the matter to the Nursing and Midwifery Council, which struck off Mr Okegbola after finding 35 different allegations proven against him over actions that were “sexually motivated” toward her and four other staff from 2019 to 2022. The NMC tribunal found it was more likely than not that he had touched or attempted to touch the breasts of two people working at the trust. The panel added he had “breached professional boundaries” on numerous occasions and “repeatedly [harassed] more than one colleague over a prolonged period of time”. Speaking for the first time since Mr Okegbola was struck off, Holly has accused the trust of having a “culture of acceptance” and failing to protect female staff. Holly, whose name has been changed, told The Independent: “There is a complete lack of awareness about these things happening in the NHS. It’s very much hidden under the carpet, I felt like they [the trust] didn’t know how to handle this." Read full story Source: The Independent, 5 May 2025
-
News Article
CEO tells staff ‘silence is complicity’ after record sexual misconduct reports
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
An ambulance trust has dismissed “multiple staff” for sexual misconduct offences this year following its “highest year ever for reported sexual safety incidents” in 2024, HSJ has learned. East of England Ambulance Service Trust’s chief executive Neill Moloney wrote to staff to warn them they all have a “moral obligation” to “step up when [they] see inappropriate behaviour”. In the letter, seen by HSJ, Mr Moloney said: “Silence is not neutrality. It is complicity. We all have a moral obligation to support those that experience this behaviour… If you witness or experience inappropriate sexualised behaviour, I am encouraging you to report it.” He added: “Last year alone, 44 sexual safety incidents were reported — our highest year ever for reported sexual misconduct — figures driven in part by higher reporting of incidents. “Already in 2025, we have dismissed multiple staff for sexual misconduct. This includes sexualised conversation and language in ambulances and crew rooms. This is considered sexual misconduct and we need your support to continue to eradicate this.” The trust told HSJ that four people were dismissed for sexual misconduct in 2024, and to date in 2025, a further four people have been dismissed. The concerns follow the results of the NHS Staff Survey published last month, which highlighted the depth of the sexual misconduct problems across the whole ambulance sector, with the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives calling for a “cultural reset”. Read full story (paywalled) Source: HSJ, 28 April 2025 -
News Article
Violence and abuse against ambulance staff in UK at highest level on record
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
The number of violent assaults, acts of aggression and incidents of abuse against ambulance staff in the UK has risen to the highest on record, according to data health leaders described as “horrendous” and “truly shocking”. There were 22,536 incidents of violence, aggression and abuse directed at paramedics and other ambulance workers in 2024-25, up 15% on the 19,633 in 2023-24, figures from the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) show. It means that each week on average those responding to 999 calls are the victims of 433 attacks, include kicking, punching, slapping, head-butting, spitting, sexual assault and verbal abuse. Senior ambulance officials said they believed the true toll was even higher, with many incidents not reported or recorded. Female paramedics and ambulance workers are the most likely to be targeted by the public. Jason Killens, the AACE chair, said: “These figures are truly shocking and reflect a pattern of increased violence, aggression and abuse directed at hard-working ambulance people who are there to help people in their times of greatest need. “Frontline staff as well as call handlers are affected by this horrendous abuse, and this unacceptable behaviour has a major long-term impact on the health and wellbeing of ambulance people who are simply trying to do their jobs and help save lives.” Read full story Source: The Guardian, 24 April 2025 -
News Article
USA: Efforts to address workplace violence gain renewed attention
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Violence against healthcare workers made national headlines in March after the American Hospital Association warned of an alleged coordinated, multicity terrorist attack on hospitals in the coming weeks. The FBI found that the threat was not credible, but the incident brought violence prevention back to the forefront. Healthcare workers are five times more likely to suffer a workplace violence injury than workers overall. A 2024 study found emergency nurses experienced verbal or physical violence daily, but often chose not to report it. When asked, nurses said they did not report workplace violence incidents for the following reasons: “nothing will change” (24%), “event was not severe enough” (21%), “part of the job” (15%), “electronic reporting system is time-consuming/complicated” (9%), “lack of time” (6%), “don’t know how” (3%) and “lack of leadership support” (3%). Yet just 61.4% of hospitals reported having a workplace violence prevention initiative, according to 2021 data from the AHA, the most recent available. More systems are reacting to the need for better security, with many installing metal detectors, hiring more security personnel and installing cameras, among other measures. In the last year, governments, governing bodies and associations have also started taking more steps to help address workplace violence. Read full story Source: Becker's Clinical Leadership, 14 April 2025 -
News ArticleA growing number of healthcare workers and patients are demanding immediate legislative action to address rising workplace violence in hospitals, a survey by Black Book Research has found. The survey, which included responses from 240 individuals — emergency department physicians, nurses, hospital-based staff and 200 healthcare consumers — reveals widespread concern over increasing aggression toward medical professionals and overwhelming support for federal intervention. Key findings show that 98% of hospital staff and 93% of healthcare consumers support federal legislation mandating workplace violence prevention measures. All staff respondents said they had experienced or witnessed violence at work, with many expressing dissatisfaction with current safety protocols. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, an average of 57 healthcare workers are injured daily due to workplace violence, resulting in lost workdays, job reassignment or medical care. Incidents range from verbal threats and physical assaults to chronic aggression, particularly in emergency departments and behavioral health units. “Technology is now a cornerstone of prevention strategies in hospital safety plans,” Doug Brown, founder of Black Book Research, said in the report. “Healthcare IT vendors play a vital role in safeguarding hospital staff by embedding safety-focused features into the software and services used every day.” Read full story Source: Becker's Health IT, 14 April 2025
