A safer place to work protecting NHS hospital and ambulance staff from violence and aggression thirty-ninth report of session 2002-03 report, together with formal minutes, oral and written evidence

House of Commons papers 2002-03 641

Format:

Corporate Author:

Great Britain Parliament House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts

Author:

Leigh Edward chairman

Publisher:

TSO (The Stationery Office)

Incidents of violence and aggression against NHS staff are high and rising, with over 95,000 reported in 2001-02. The impact is immediate, in terms of injury and distress, and longer term with increases in stress, sickness absence, lower morale and productivity, and problems in retention and recruitment. The Department of Health's zero tolerance zone campaign, started in 1999, sought to raise awareness of the need to report incidents, and the actions that staff and the public could expect Trusts and the Department to take. The Committee finds that under-reporting is still significant, and many Trusts do not use the standard definition from the Department. Results do not differentiate between the types and severity of the incidents. Whilst Trusts have developed a range of measures to deter patients and visitors from becoming violent of aggressive, there is no evaluation of their effectiveness, and limited dissemination of information about effective measures. The Department should review measures taken and publicise effective ones. Finally, the Committee notes that levels of co-operation with the police and the Crown Prosecution Service have been growing, but there is scope for improvement over response times and in pressing charges.

Extent	[2], 20, Ev 12p.	ISBN	9780215012074
Size	N/A	Price	£9.00
Format	Paperback	Published	23 Jul 2003
Availability	Out of stock - available to order	Delivery	Delivery options and charges