Nurse’s children plead for end to violence against NHS staff
Violent attacks towards nurses and other healthcare staff at a group of hospitals in the North East of England have increased by almost a third, as a campaign is launched to tackle the rising problem.
More than 800 members of staff across South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, which together form University Hospitals Tees, reported assault from members of the public while at work in the last year.
“It is not appropriate to receive violence and aggression when we are here to help people”
Carley Wilson
The hospital group said this constituted a 32% increase on the previous 12 months.
In response, it has launched a campaign to combat violence against its staff. This campaign involves messages from the children and grandchildren of staff.
Carley Wilson, a scrub nurse at North Tees and Hartlepool, brought her children Isla, 12, and Nevaeh, 10, into the campaign.
“Our mam is a scrub nurse, please keep her safe at work,” reads the poster featuring Isla and Nevaeh, which will be displayed at the hospitals.
Ms Wilson said: “This campaign is very important to me. I have been a nurse for 15 years now and love doing my job and helping patients.
“It is not appropriate to receive violence and aggression when we are here to help people.”
Nurse Carley Wilson’s children help send a message
Reports of rising violence at the Tees group of hospitals comes after a Nursing Times investigation found racist abuse towards NHS staff across England, particularly from patients, has been rising sharply in recent years.
Similarly, other individual trusts have recorded large rises in violence and abuse, such as Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust – which recently put in measures to counter this including giving some nursing staff body-worn cameras.
Also pictured on the posters as part of the campaign was Faye, eight, daughter of consultant obstetrician Louise Michie.
“All NHS workers have the right to feel safe at work to allow them to provide the best possible care to our patients,” said Dr Michie.
“The campaign is incredibly important as it highlights the message that violent attacks against our staff will not be tolerated.”
Rachael Metcalf, group chief people officer for University Hospitals Tees, said the project was ultimately about “sending the message” that violence against her staff was “never acceptable”.
