More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
A hospital where staff have been spat at, groped and had patients attempt to bite them has spoken out against the daily abuse they suffer.
Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust has revealed details of verbal and physical attacks as part of a campaign to highlight assaults on colleagues at Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford.
They say workers are subject to a long line of abuse which ranges from racial remarks to drunken attacks and even sexual groping.
Last week a man who lashed out and tried to bite a nurse while being treated was jailed.
He was brought into A&E by police in June who helped clinical staff to restrain him.
The injured man became violent while being assessed, spitting at the nurse in charge before trying to sink his teeth into her.
The 23-year-old was later sentenced to six months in prison at Woolwich Crown Court for assaulting five emergency services workers.
Following the incident the man was red-carded as part of the new campaign.
This means he cannot enter any of the hospital's premises unless he needs emergency care or by prior written agreement.
Under the scheme, abusive people are first given a recorded verbal warning.
If they continue to misbehave a first and final formal warning (yellow card) is issued.
Persistent bad behaviour or serious incidents will result in a red card being issued, banning the offender.
This year, the hospital reports individuals have received a red card for racial abuse and intimidating staff, while others have received a final written warning for verbally abusing staff.
Assaults on employees are on the increase with incidents taking place twice a day on average.
The number of physical assaults against staff carrying out their duties was 84 since 1 April 2019, according to statistics released by the trust.
Figures also show the number of staff who experience verbal aggression from patients, carers and relatives was 266, so there has been a total of 350 incidents during the period.
In total, last year there were 440 such incidents.
Signs have been placed throughout the hospital informing patients and visitors aggressive behaviour will not be tolerated.
All security staff now wear body cameras and CCTV is in operation in the building and grounds.
Chief nurse, Siobhan Callanan expressed her concerns regarding the safety of staff and encouraged colleagues to speak up and report incidents.
“All of our hospital staff are committed to providing the very best possible care to the people in the community they serve," she said.
"It’s worrying to know that the number of attacks on hospital staff is increasing. Our staff are here to help and should never fear for their safety.
"Workplace violence is unacceptable and our policy towards any kind of abuse is clear - any kind which includes physical, verbal, gender or racial abuse will not be tolerated."
