Shocking figures show attack rise

Almost 2,000 health workers were attacked while on duty in the Black Country and Staffordshire over the past year, shock new figures reveal.

South Staffordshire & Shropshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust saw the most violence, with 681 assaults in 2007/08.

Wolverhampton City PCT followed with 363 attacks, Sandwell Mental Health NHS and Social Care Trust with 175 and Walsall Teaching PCT with 153.

Sandwell PCT fared best with just three attacks members of staff. Nationally, there were 55,993 reported assaults on NHS staff in 2007/08 – a rise of 284 from last year. The official figures have come from NHS Security Management Service (SMS).

Richard Hampton, head of SMS, which oversees NHS security, said: "For too long NHS staff have been prepared to accept some level of violence or abuse as a part of the job. The SMS has made educating staff about the importance of reporting all assaults a top priority."

Claudine Weeks, spokeswoman for The Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust, revealed 11 of the cases at New Cross Hospital were referred to the police.

She said: "The incidents included staff being scratched, bitten, punched and kicked. The majority of reported incidents involved patients who were confused or agitated due to their conditions, or had taken drugs or alcohol."

Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Hospitals Trust spokeswoman Helen Eden said: "Improved conflict resolution training has resulted in fewer violent episodes and new measures are in place to identify individuals at an earlier stage who may pose a risk to staff."

Paul Farenden, chief executive of the Dudley Group of Hospitals, added there was CCTV covering all public areas and a 24-hour security service.

Pat Russell, local security management specialist for Sandwell PCT, said: "The trust recognises that the figures reported are low and we are currently reviewing our incident reporting processes."