NHS reform blamed for big rise in staff attacks

Rising expectations among hospital patients are blamed today for a 13 per cent increase in violent attacks on NHS staff, an unwelcome side-effect of the Government's drive to rebuild the health service .

The National Audit Office says 95,500 incidents of violence and aggression were recorded in 2001-02, up from 84,500 in 1999-00. The rise is believed to be due in part to better reporting, but the NAO adds: "Many trusts consider that increased hospital activity and higher patient expectations particularly in relation to waiting times have also contributed to an increase in the actual levels of violence."

NHS trusts were set a target of a 20 per cent reduction in violent incidents by April 2002 but only a fifth achieved it. The NAO estimates the financial cost of the incidents is at least £69m a year, excluding the cost of replacing staff and the human toll of stress, low morale and lost productivity.

Nurses working in ambulances and accident and emergency departments who have direct contact with the public have a four times greater risk of being attacked than other staff members. Incidents are also common in mental health units.

Despite the rising number of attacks, the NAO estimates that two out of five incidents are not reported, especially by doctors and in mental health units.