Attacks on health staff soar across Bradford

The number of assaults on staff at Bradford District Care Trust, which provides mental health and learning disabilities services, have soared by a staggering 131 per cent from 2012/13 to 2013/14.

Attacks were also up at the district's two hospital trusts, with Bradford seeing a 42 per cent rise, and Airedale an increase of four per cent.

Assaults on staff at the Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust also saw a sharp rise of 69 per cent.

Across England, the number of reported assaults nationwide rose from 63,199 to 68,683 in the year to April, an increase of 8.7 per cent, according to data published yesterday by NHS Protect.

The statistics show the number of physical assaults on staff at Bradford District Care Trust had dropped from 802 in 20011/12 to 399 in 2012/13 but the figure rose dramatically to a total of 921 in 2013/14.

Nicola Lees, deputy chief executive and director of nursing at the trust, said: “The rise in the number of incidents is due to an increase in the number of people we supported over the last year with challenging behaviours.

“The safety of staff and patients is a priority, and staff are encouraged to report all types of incidents no matter how minor they feel they are.

“The majority of these incidents were minor such as a push.

“Through our Patient Advice Liaison Service, we work closely with service users and carers to listen to concerns and understand what can lead to aggression.”

Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which includes Bradford Royal Infirmary and St Luke's, saw assaults rise from 111 in 2011/12 to 116 in 2012/13.

But that figure jumped to 165 in 2013/14, and staff say the A&E department at BRI remains a "flashpoint for violence and aggression".

Andrea Dalton, Bradford Teaching Hospitals’ general manager (facilities), said regular risk assessments were conducted to identify "hotspots" around the hospitals.

“We want patients and the public to understand that we have a zero-tolerance approach to violence and aggression, and while our security staff deal with the majority of incidents, we will involve the police when necessary.

“NHS staff who suffer violence or abuse can be confident that action will be taken against those who have committed assaults.”

At the Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Airedale General Hospital in Steeton, the number of assaults increased by two, from 47 to 49, between 2012/13 and 2013/14.

Stacey Hunter, director of operations for the Trust, said: “Although the increase in the number of reported assaults on staff over the past year has been slight, we are not complacent.

"Our new emergency department has a procedure which enables the whole area to be locked down from the rest of the hospital in case of any incident."

The number of assaults on Yorkshire Ambulance staff rose from 68 in 2012/13 to 110 in 2013/14, although bosses attributed part of the significant increase to an improved reporting process.

Of the 110 reported assaults, 25 led to criminal sanctions against those responsible, highlighting the trust's zero-tolerance approach towards violent and aggressive behaviour, the trust said.

Ian Horner, its security management specialist, said: “Any attacks, both verbal and physical, are completely unacceptable, and action will be taken against those who assault our staff.

“The total of 110 assaults is a shocking figure, and it is appalling that ambulance service staff who do a difficult job, often in challenging circumstances, can be physically and verbally attacked as they try to save lives.”

UNISON officials said the fact that the number of assaults was rising year-on-year should "ring alarm bells."

Gary Cleaver, regional organiser for Yorkshire and the Humber, said: "The figures are absolutely shocking, particularly those within Bradford District Care Trust, where the figure has more than doubled."

Janet Davies, of the Royal College of Nursing, said: "Sadly, our experience suggests that the reported assaults may be the tip of an even larger iceberg."