Each year across the NHS, more than 75,000 staff experience physical violence and aggression, which is why we operate zero acceptance of racism, discrimination and disrespectful behaviours.
“I’m not here to be abused” features real Mersey Care staff as part of the campaign, with a short bio next to their picture, so patients can relate to the person behind the uniform.
Everyone deserves to come to work and be treated with dignity and respect, which is why our staff should not have to worry about being subjected to abusive behaviour or violence. Therefore in some circumstances, treatment may be withheld from anyone being unreasonable.
The 2021 NHS Staff survey, of which there were nearly 600,000 responses from 220 NHS trusts, found that:
- 14.3% of NHS staff have experienced at least one incident of physical violence from patients, service users, relatives or other members of the public in the last 12 months
- The impact on staff is significant, with violent attacks contributing to 46.8% of staff feeling unwell as a result of work-related stress in the last 12 months, with 31.1% said thinking about leaving the organisation.
We know the vast majority of patients and the public show nothing but respect and thanks for the skilled care they receive but the unacceptable actions of a small minority is having a massive impact on the professional and personal lives of NHS staff.