NHS staff in Wales attacked every two hours

NHS staff in Wales attacked every two hours

Figures obtained by Wales on Sunday under the Freedom of Information Act have revealed that an NHS worker is attacked in Wales every two hours.

The number of assaults on nurses, doctors and paramedics has reached an average of 13 attacks a day. Almost 7,500 incidents of physical and verbal abuse concerning health workers took place across Wales last year and union chiefs say the real figures may be much higher.

In the last year, there were 4,850 physical assaults - more than one every two hours. In addition, there were 2,621 incidences of verbal abuse and 29 recorded incidences of racial abuse. Many trusts do not record whether the abuse was racial.

NHS staff attacked every two hours (icwales website, 24 July 2005)