More than 72,000 attacks on staff in five years ‘appalling’ | UK News

More than 72,000 cases of physical and verbal abuse have been suffered by health and social care staff in Northern Ireland in the last five years, according to figures released by the Department of Health (DoH).

The figures were given to Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) assembly member Diane Dodds in response to an assembly written question.

She described them as “utterly appalling”.

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said the attacks were “completely unacceptable”, adding that his department took the incidents “extremely seriously”.

Dodds, who sits on Stormont’s health committee, said perpetrators of violent acts against healthcare staff needed to “feel the full force of the law against them”.

“While we accept that if you’re in A&E and things may be a little bit fraught and people are frustrated, there’s absolutely no excuse whatsoever for either physically or verbally abusing the staff who are there to help you,” she told News NI.

Dodds added while body camera pilot schemes were already in place in some health trusts for worker and patient safety, the fact they were needed was an “indictment on our society”.

She called for legislation to be introduced which would offer harsh sentences for those who attack staff.

“The law should state that these workers who are working to help us should be protected in law from the physical abuse that we’ve seen,” Dodds added.

“Workers who are in the public sector, who are working in emergency services, do not deserve this and we need to offer them protection in law.”

The figures state there were about 60,000 physical attacks on staff, and over 12,000 incidents of verbal abuse recorded in the last five years.

Of the 72,000 attacks, around 21,000 took place in the Belfast Trust alone, which was more than double the number of the second highest, the Southern Trust.

The incident numbers only cover health trust staff, and do not include other settings like health centres, independent providers and private care homes.

Dodds said the figures only show reported incidents, and that the actual number may be much higher.

“I suspect that there are many staff who think: ‘What can be done? What’s the point?’, and just get on with their job, and I think that is a terrible reflection on society.

“It’s a reflection on the state, particularly of our emergency departments, and we really need to do something about it.”

Responding to the figures, the health minister said attacks would not be tolerated and a framework was launched in 2023 to help tackle the issue.

“The framework sets out a clear, consistent approach for preventing and responding to incidents of violence, ensuring staff have access to support, that incidents are properly reported, and that action is taken when staff are harmed or threatened,” Nesbitt said.

“We are clear that creating a culture of zero tolerance towards violence and aggression in the workplace is not a one-off action, but a sustained commitment.

“Every member of staff has the right to feel safe and respected at work, and we will continue to take all necessary steps to protect and support our workforce.”

However, Dodds said the number of incidents would point towards the framework not being “that successful”.

“I think people feel obviously when they go to A&E that the staff there are fair game for either physical or verbal abuse,” she added.

“I think it’s utterly appalling that in our society that staff, who go to work day in and day out to care for us when we’re at our most vulnerable, have been subject to such levels of abuse.”