Speaking at UNISON’s annual health conference yesterday (April 9), Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting announced a new support package to tackle violence, improve the working lives of NHS staff and aid career progression.
The measures are part of a range of recommendations accepted by the government under the Agenda for Change contract - which covers over a million frontline NHS workers - following the agreement of the 2023 pay deal.
Violence against healthcare workers has become a critical issue, with the 2024 NHS Staff Survey revealing that one in seven experienced physical violence from patients, their relatives or other members of the public.
A quarter of NHS staff experienced at least one incident of harassment, bullying or abuse in the last 12 months. Many incidents currently go unreported, hampering efforts to address the problem systematically.
Taking steps
New measures will be put in place to encourage staff to report incidents of violence or aggression towards them, and to ensure this information is collected at national level. Data will also be analysed to better understand if certain staff groups - whether by race, gender, disability status, or role - face disproportionate risks, allowing trusts to protect the most vulnerable workers.
Wes Streeting said: “Protecting staff from violence is not an optional extra. Zero tolerance for violence and harassment of NHS staff. It’s a commitment to make sure healthcare workers can focus on saving lives without fear for their own safety.”
In total, 36 recommendations have been accepted by ministers, which are expected to have a considerable and positive impact on the NHS workforce, improve staff morale and enhance recruitment and retention.
