Police called 'every day' to violence against NHS staff

[Northerner]

Police are called to at least one violent incident against NHS staff each day on average, figures have suggested.

Statistics from four health boards showed officers were called 521 times in 2017/18 and 2,719 times since 2013.

One nurse said she struggled to pass a street in Newport where she was attacked by a patient's husband on a home visit.

She spoke out as a bill to double the sentence for assaults on emergency workers is expected to pass on Friday.

In total, there were more than 7,900 incidents of physical or verbal assault against Welsh NHS staff in the year to March - suggesting on any given day, 20 workers face abuse.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-44630481

 

[Ralph-YK]

If passed, and brought into law later this year, it would see the maximum prison sentence for a common assault double from six months to one year, if the victim is a firefighter, police a firefighter, police officer, search and rescue volunteer, or NHS worker.

It would will also apply to prison officers, and to anyone who is attacked while assisting an emergency worker.

Ms Carroll said she often has to support RCN members who have experienced violence on the job.

Years ago there was similar coverage and talk of a law covering fire fighters. One thing that I never heard said was "when they are doing there job!" There is a suggestion of that in this story.
Generally violence is bad. When it's directed at people when they are trying to possibly save someone's life it's dreadful. Actually, anyone interfering with medical people doing their job is pretty low.
Interestingly, the law mentioned here (is it just in Whales?) also covers those helping emergency workings. I wonder where someone calling 999 would fall under the law.

 

[mikeyB]

Those numbers don’t really mean much unless you know how many patients visit A&E each year. It’s not a new thing anyway. It’s just busier now.