NHS Lanarkshire condemn violence towards staff, as nearly three assaults a day recorded

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Shock new statistics have shown NHS Lanarkshire staff are being assaulted, on average, three times every day.The latest annual figures, obtained by a Freedom of Information request, show over 1000 incidents were reported across the region.Union body, Unison, unveiled the challenges that health staff face in a damning report called ‘Violent assaults: NHS staff in Scotland’.The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now.

Get all the news from your area – as well as features, entertainment, sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories, and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you.Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android It shows there were 18,389 assaults in Scotland from the start of April 2021 to the end of March 2022 – with 1173 of these incidents affecting NHS Lanarkshire staff.The health board says violence or aggression “never has been tolerated and it will certainly not be now”.However, Unison Scotland’s head of health, Matt Mclaughlin is dismayed at the latest figures, and thinks the number of assaults could be even higher than reported.

He said : “One assault on NHS staff is one too many. "Over 18,000 assaults of NHS staff is simply unacceptable.“And we are under no doubt that there is considerable under-reporting.

Working in the NHS is stressful enough without having to worry about your personal safety."NHS boards must take a zero-tolerance approach and improve the reporting system which NHS staff have little faith in.“While NHS boards must invest in dynamic risk assessments, staff training and