More than a thousand aggressive and violent incidents involving front line medical staff in A&E go unreported an investigation has revealed, and nurses are calling for a zero-tolerance policy on violence.
Data gathered from a freedom of information (FOI) request to Oxford University Hospitals Trust, shows all the violent and aggressive incidents involving front line medical staff in the A&E units at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford and the Horton in Banbury between 2020 and April 2022.
The figures show 50 violent and aggressive incidents in the Oxfordshire A&Es were reported to the hospital trust this year up until April.
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In 2020, 97 incidents in the A&Es were reported and in 2021, 175 incidents were reported to the trust.
However, these figures show a stark difference between the number of incidents reported to the hospital trust and the number of incidents security attended, as more than 1,200 incidents have gone unreported since the start of 2020.
The security logs for both the Horton and the JR show that in 2020, 602 violent and aggressive incidents occurred and in 2021, 725 incidents were recorded by security. In just the first four months of 2022, 231 incidents were attended by security.
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Medical staff in at the JR and the Horton have resorted to wearing smartphone sized body cameras just to feel safe at work. It is hoped the cameras deter hospital visitors from being aggressive and keep staff and patients safe.
Medical staff at the JR have been wearing the body cameras since January 2022, but still in the months from the start of 2022 until April, security at the hospital attended 217 violent and aggressive incidents.
Theresa Curry, Royal College of Nursing senior regional officer for Oxfordshire said: “One violent incident is one too many, more than 200 is unacceptable. There must be a zero-tolerance policy toward violence against all staff no matter what their job within A&E and the hospitals more widely.
“Nursing staff do not go to work to be physically or verbally assaulted nor are they an additional layer of security. The challenges they face are great enough without having to be worried about aggression.
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“All nursing staff must feel they can raise incidents quickly and easily and also be assured that swift and direct action will be taken against perpetrators.
“It shouldn’t have to be spelt out, but there should be clear signs to warn patients of the consequences of being aggressive towards staff, including a visible security presence if necessary.”
The Oxford University NHS Foundation Trust said: “The Trust is currently working to address cases of violence and aggression in its hospitals via the use of body cameras in selected areas, as well as a wider campaign around abusive and aggressive behavior towards NHS staff.
“We understand there is significant under-reporting of incidents in the A&E department.”
Read more from this author
This story was written by Rebecca Whittaker, she joined the team in 2019 as a multimedia reporter.
Rebecca covers education and news in Abingdon and Wantage.
Get in touch with her by emailing: Rebecca.Whittaker@newquest.co.uk or calling 07824524333
Follow her on Twitter @RebecWhitt
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