10 March 2025
Responding to the Health Secretary’s speech at the Unison annual health conference in Liverpool this week (9 April 205) President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine Dr Adrian Boyle said:
“We welcome the Secretary of State’s ambition to reduce violence towards NHS staff. The fact that one in seven health care workers has been the victim physical violence at work is simply unacceptable.
“As the part of the health service which is open 24/7, 365 days a year, we know Emergency Department staff are often the ones who bear the brunt of aggression and violence. And the link between acts of violence preceded by long waits or delays has been established.
“Just for example, a female colleague said to me the other day that she feels safer walking alone late at night than when she is at work – and that can never be OK.
“We support all measures introduced to ensure that everyone feels safe in their workplace and of course those to end the extremely long waits in A&Es which are increasingly dangerous for patients – and in some cases – staff too.”
