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NHS Moves To Stamp Out Violence Against Health Workers
DOCTORS, nurses, paramedics and other health workers are joining forces to hit home the message that violence and abuse against them will not be tolerated.
NHS workers from all professions in Cheshire and Merseyside, including Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust, are launching a hard-hitting campaign today (Thursday) as they unveil a series of posters for buses, bus shelters and pubs and clubs in Cheshire and Merseyside.
The campaign itself features a series of graphic images that highlight the physical and mental damage inflicted on NHS staff everyday.
With 4,767 reported incidents of violence against NHS staff during 2002/03. That’s 156 more incidents than the previous year and with approximately 60,000 frontline NHS workers it potentially affects one in 12 NHS workers across both counties.
The campaign aims to reduce this by raising public awareness. Its messages are stark - the NHS will not tolerate abuse of its staff and it will support staff who prosecute.
Jonathan Parry, Chief Executive of Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust, said:-
"Violence against all of those working in the NHS is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. NHS staff and professionals have the right to work in a safe and secure environment where they can deliver the best possible patient care without fear of hostility. One of our key objectives is to tackle violence or abuse of any kind against staff.”
Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust has already introduced a number of procedures to protect its staff, including a policy that includes withdrawal of treatment to any persistently violent patient.
Training is available for all staff, which includes how to deal with violent situations, and the Trust is also planning a joint initiative with Merseyside Police for further training developments.
A police liaison office has been established in the Accident and Emergency Department at Southport Hospital and all the Trust’s A&E departments will have direct radio links to local police stations. CCTV is also to be improved as an extra deterrent to criminal behaviour on Trust property.
Jonathan added:- “We are committed to tackling this issue and ensuring that NHS staff have the security they deserve to guard against all kinds of abuse. In the future, and where appropriate, all possible criminal and civil action will be
taken.
The campaign run across Cheshire and Merseyside indicates our commitment to tackle this issue and highlights the ‘get tough’ stance of zero tolerance within the NHS
locally."
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The following table provides a breakdown of incidents within each NHS organisation throughout Cheshire and Merseyside:-
| Organisation |
2001
to 2002 |
2002
to 2003 |
| AINTREE HOSPITALS NHS TRUST |
81 |
77 |
| CLATTERBRIDGE CENTRE FOR ONCOLOGY TRUST |
2 |
9 |
| COUNTESS OF CHESTER HOSPITAL NHS TRUST |
577 |
417 |
| EAST CHESHIRE NHS TRUST |
154 |
63 |
| LIVERPOOL WOMENS HOSPITAL NHS TRUST |
195 |
73 |
| NORTH CHESHIRE HOSPITALS NHS TRUST |
170 |
147 |
| ROYAL LIVERPOOL BROADGREEN HOSPS TRUST |
308 |
340 |
| ROYAL LIVERPOOL CHILDRENS NHS TRUST |
152 |
92 |
| SOUTHPORT AND ORMSKIRK HOSPITAL NHS TR |
299 |
79 |
| ST HELENS AND KNOWSLEY HOSPITALS NHS TR 506 |
363 |
|
| THE CARDIOTHORACIC CNTR - LIVERPOOL NHST |
7 |
15 |
| THE MID CHESHIRE HOSPITALS NHS TRUST |
116 |
97 |
| WALTON NEUROLOGY CENTRE NHS TRUST |
60 |
39 |
| WIRRAL HOSPITAL NHS TRUST |
98 |
201 |
| 5 BOROUGH PARTNERSHIP NHS TRUST |
1,318 |
154 |
| CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL PARTNERSHIP NHS TRUST |
36 |
1243 |
| MERSEY CARE |
448 |
1118 |
| MERSEY REGIONAL AMBULANCE SERVICE TRUST |
60 |
67 |
| CHESTER & HALTON COMMUNITY |
12 |
|
| WIRRAL & WEST CHESHIRE COMMUNITY |
|
16 |
| BEBINGTON AND WEST WIRRAL PCT |
|
15 |
| BIRKENHEAD AND WALLASEY PCT |
|
21 |
| CENTRAL CHESHIRE PCT |
|
4 |
| CENTRAL LIVERPOOL PCT |
|
3 |
| CHESHIRE WEST PCT |
|
9 |
| EASTERN CHESHIRE PCT |
|
14 |
| ELLESMERE PORT AND NESTON PCT |
|
24 |
| HALTON PCT |
|
27 |
| KNOWSLEY PCT |
|
0 |
| NORTH LIVERPOOL PCT |
|
0 |
| SOUTH LIVERPOOL PCT |
|
3 |
| SOUTH SEFTON PCT |
12 |
29 |
| SOUTHPORT AND FORMBY PCT |
|
6 |
| ST HELENS PCT |
|
2 |
| WARRINGTON PCT |
4611 |
4767 |
This campaign is being run jointly across 30 NHS organisations in Cheshire and Merseyside with the backing of and part funding from the Workforce Development Confederation.
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