Over 6,000 NI Nurses Attacked At Work Last Year

More than 6,000 nurses were attacked while at work caring for others in Northern Ireland last year.

Figures released from the region's five Health Trusts show a total of 6651 attacks on health care staff- 6138 directed at nurses, 97 at doctors and 416 at other HSC staff.

In the Belfast area alone, there was almost four thousand attacks on nurses.

Northern Ireland's Chief Nursing Officer, Charlotte McArdle, condemned any form of attack on nurses or any other healthcare workers.

She said: "HSC staff work incredibly hard in a high-pressure environment and I am appalled to think that people who dedicate themselves to caring for others and saving lives are being subjected to verbal or physical abuse within their place of work and wish to ensure staff, the public and patients are safeguarded from violent and antisocial behaviour.

"These experiences have a hugely negative impact on their performance at work as well as physical and mental health of healthcare staff, and their personal and family relationships. Healthcare workers often express an understanding as to why some people they work with may behave in certain ways, sometimes that's due to illness but often it's just unacceptable behaviour. 

"People tend to think the majority of these attacks occur in A&E Departments where alcohol or drug abuse appear to be causal factors. The majority of recorded incidents across the HSC are linked to persons with mental health and learning disability rather than any malicious intent. 

"Whilst many of these incidents are a direct result of illness, Employers need to understand how to meet their responsibilities to employees to fulfil their duty of care and to do that they have to understand particular issues associated with providing care in challenging and complex situations."

Each HSC Trust operates a robust Zero Tolerance Policy, overseen by a Senior Director. The policy requires the provision of a working environment where employees can undertake their duties without fear of abuse or violence.

Whilst it is recognised that incidents of an aggressive or violent nature cannot be fully eliminated, the policy provides a means to manage and minimise the risk to employees. It aims to ensure that all staff are aware of, and are protected from, as far as is reasonably practical, violent or potentially violent situations that may occur within Trust facilities and/or whilst staff are on duty.

A Zero Tolerance Task and Finish Group has been established to review the existing policy and develop a regional plan for the management of incidents of violence and aggression. This review should be completed in the summer.



(JG/MH)