Dealing with violence and aggression should never be part of the job. No matter where you work in the NHS, UNISON is there to help.
Violent assaults against NHS staff are rising. Around 200,000 people each year experiencing physical violence & aggression from patients, relatives or members of the public.
UNISON is pushing back to change this deeply concerning pattern. This means:
- Gathering data on levels of violence NHS staff face, to show national, regional and local trends.
- Staff get quality physical and psychological support if they are assaulted at work.
- Managers understand their responsibilities, working in partnership with health and safety reps.
- Staff are trained and supported to deal with challenging situations, including de-escalation and restraint.
Are you experiencing violence at work?
It is vital that anyone who experiences physical or verbal abuse reports it promptly. No matter how minor you may think the incident was, reporting and handling the issue early will reduce the risk of further escalation.
If you have experienced any sort of workplace violence speak to your UNISON health and safety rep who will help you resolve the issue.
If you are not sure who your health and safety rep is, or your workplace does not have one, contact your branch.
Want to get more involved?
If you are interested in workplace health and safety, you can become a UNISON Health and Safety Rep. You could receive training and paid time off to take on this role. Speak to your local UNISON branch.
Already an activist?
If you’re looking to increase awareness and make sure colleagues are aware of the support available to them, you can familiarise yourself with our branch guide.
You can also download or print our poster and display it around your workplace.
You could also familiarise yourself with the updated Violence Prevention and Reduction Standard
The standard aims to deliver a risk-based framework, safeguarding staff against abuse, aggression and violence.
The guidance note is also available and designed to help implementation of new prevention and reduction methods.
Find out more about the cost of violence to the NHS here.
You can also read NHS Resolutions’s report on workplace violence here.