Patient attacks on 150 staff at Walsall Manor Hospital
More than 150 workers at Walsall Manor Hospital were attacked by patients in 12 months, bosses have revealed.
The incidents of violence or aggression were reported to Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust between April 2014 and March this year.
The health trust said the many of the 156 reports involved patients with medical conditions such as dementia and those undergoing detox treatment.
A new Respect Us campaign has now been launched to cut down on the number of incidents against health staff.
Chief executive Richard Kirby said: "The campaign is all about raising awareness of the violence and aggression that our colleagues suffer and making the public stop and think about the effects of their actions.
"The figures are high and we are working together to try and bring them down – but even if there was only one attack that is still one too many."
An example of such attacks has seen security guard Laky Singh punched by patients and most recently grabbed around the neck.
The 47-year-old said: "Violence and aggression is shocking and has a lasting effect on people, not just physically but mentally too. We're not here to be abused."
