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Assaults on hospital staff have reached record levels in Wales – with attacks taking place on average 10 times every single day.

Exclusive figures obtained by WalesOnline show 3,805 physical assaults against staff were reported by Welsh health boards in 2017-18.

That was up from 3,716 in 2016-17, according to new stats released following Freedom of Information requests.

Staff were injured at least 1,654 times as a result of assaults in 2017-18, although not all health boards held this information so the true figure is likely to be higher.

Dame Donna Kinnair, chief executive and general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), said: “It’s extremely worrying to find out that the number of attacks on hospital staff is relentlessly rising again after a small reduction two years ago.

“The fact that assaults on staff have increased by 70% since 2010 shows that Ministers, the NHS, and individual employers have still not got a grip on this problem.

“Workplace violence for anyone working on the frontline is unacceptable. As a nurse myself I’ve seen and experienced situations that have made me feel unsafe or under threat.”

(Image: Media Wales)

Morriston Hospital A&E staff speak out after violent incident Staff in Swansea's Morriston Hospital made "a zero tolerance stand" against violence earlier this year after a patient spat at and tried to bite them – and grabbed one by the throat. The frightening incident at in the emergency department resulted in 19-year-old William Kory Mayberry (pictured below) being given a custodial sentence by a district judge in February. Matron Andrea Bradley, who was involved in trying to calm Mayberry down, said it had been in the upper range of violence and aggression incidents staff were frequently confronted with. “These incidents have become part of our role but they shouldn’t,” she said. “There is the likelihood of aggression every day. And it’s not just how it affects us but other patients too. “Nurses had to intervene to help stop this person from hurting staff, and that left other patients vulnerable. “They were dealing with him instead of the elderly person in the next bed who was not receiving any care as a result.” Mayberry, of Ozanam Court, Blaenymaes, Swansea, pleaded guilty to three counts of assaulting an emergency worker, and to breaching a suspended sentence for previous, unrelated offences. He was sentenced to 40 weeks in a young offender institution. During the case, it was stated that Mayberry was rushed to Morriston by ambulance after apparently suffering a heart attack. However, while emergency department staff were treating him, Mayberry began struggling, shouting and swearing, tried to bite staff and spat at one of them before grabbing him by the throat. The court heard he later told police he had drunk a litre of vodka that day and could remember nothing of what happened. Mrs Bradley said the staff involved were all okay, and Mayberry’s family had been very supportive of them. “We know he has had his troubles but that doesn’t mean you can try to bite someone or grab their throat or spit at them. We’re there to help but we can’t help someone who is trying to bite us.” Staff at Morriston Hospital have ASBO (Antisocial Behaviour Order) forms which they issue to people who are violent or aggressive. Anyone receiving three ASBOs within six months is reported to police. However, more serious incidents result in police being called immediately. Emergency department senior sister Katrina Rees said staff were always encouraged to report incidents of violence and aggression. “When someone is shouting and swearing, banging doors and so on, elderly patients, patients who are really ill and their relatives find it really intimidating and uncomfortable. “It’s a small group but they cause a disproportionate amount of trouble. “We shouldn’t have to put up with it – whether it is verbal abuse, slamming a door in your face, or effing and blinding while they’re walking through a waiting room. “A hospital is supposed to be a safe place. “Fifteen years ago it wasn’t like this. But now we have become a lot more used to it than we should have. “It could be down to drink, drugs or mental health, but sometimes it’s just the way some people behave.” Mrs Rees said even staff who had not been physically assaulted were left very upset by these incidents. She added: “Staff morale is really low and this is one of the contributing factors. “They come to work to care for people and look after people. They get verbally abused, shouted at, subjected to intimidating and threatening behaviour. “That isn’t something you’d expect or should have to put up with when you’re a nurse.”

In dealing with assaults health boards in Wales used restraint on 853 occasions in 2017-18.

However just 178 criminal sanctions were recorded against the perpetrators as well as 390 civil and administrative sanctions such as warning letters, banning orders, and acceptable behaviour agreements.

Several health boards did not have this information so the real figures are likely to be much higher.

The available stats show people were charged 77 times and given verbal warnings by police on 50 occasions while police took no action in 44 cases.

(Image: Media Wales)

Dr Rob Harwood, BMA consultants committee chairman, said: “The BMA has long been concerned about the risk and impact of violence on NHS staff and these figures show a worrying rise in attacks taking place against people doing their utmost to provide high-quality care to patients in an under-pressure health service.

“In an NHS blighted with rising workloads, long wait times, and doctors and colleagues in chronically short-staffed wards under increasing pressure to deliver there is a greater risk that patients and their loved ones become understandably frustrated.

“However there is no excuse for this frustration to be taken out on staff who are simply trying to help."

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He added: “Violence against staff is not only physically and mentally harmful for the individuals targeted but it can be costly for an already stretched NHS as hospitals and other providers are forced to pay for security services, investigations, and cover for sick leave.

“Therefore there must be decisive action to tackle this problem and provide quality support to those who find themselves the victims of physical abuse.”

Dame Kinnair said far more needed to be done to protect frontline staff such as working closely with police and better recording of attacks.

She said health boards and trusts across the UK needed to show zero tolerance towards attacks and be prepared to prosecute offenders.

The RCN played a close part in shaping the new Assaults on Emergency Workers Act that came into force last year.

(Image: Rob Browne/WalesOnline)

She said: “No-one deserves to be attacked, shouted at or threatened in the course of doing their job and the RCN will continue to work to try to protect nurses."

The responses from the health boards suggest around two-thirds of the assaults were carried out by someone who did not know what they were doing – or did not know what they were doing was wrong – because of illness, mental ill health, a severe learning disability, or because of treatment they had received.

Dr Harwood said: “While we hope recent increases in jail sentences for people who attack emergency workers may help reduce incidents we must also look at the wider environment and how it may contribute to reasons behind why assaults take place.

“Alcohol is often a contributing factor, particularly in emergency departments, and more must be done, outside of medical settings, to reduce alcohol abuse.

“Similarly assaults can often occur when treating frail, older dementia patients or those with severe mental health problems.

“Situations in which these patients are inappropriately admitted to hospitals because of social care bed shortages or gaps in mental health provision are likely to only exacerbate the risk of attacks.

“The BMA believes that there is a clear need for measures to be put in place to minimise the likelihood of attacks, support staff who experience them and to ensure that anyone who commits an act of violence is dealt with appropriately.”