Unlimited Digital Access / Get £25 off your Annual Digital Subscription! Use code 25OFF
GET STARTEDMore on KentOnline
Unlimited Digital Access / Get £25 off your Annual Digital Subscription! Use code 25OFF
GET STARTEDMore on KentOnline
Staff working at Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust suffered more than 55 incidents of abuse each month, latest figures show.
Staff at Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford, experienced an average of 56.5 incidents a month last year, which include violent and aggressive behaviour and they suffer more abuse on average than their colleagues at other trusts in the county.
Staff at the trust experienced the most incidents out of the four trusts covering the county with 678 recorded, a increase of four from the previous year.
The figures were uncovered following a Freedom of Information request carried out by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Meanwhile, Medway NHS Foundation Trust saw a decrease of 30% between 2019 and 2020.
Last year, 468 incidents were recorded - an average of 39 a month - the second highest number of incidents.
The same trust recorded the most violent month out of all four trusts in June 2019, with 89 incidents.
East Kent University NHS Foundation Trust saw a decrease of 13%, whilst Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust recorded an increase of 1.4%.
A statement from Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust said a 'No Excuse for Abuse' campaign, and a 'red and yellow card' scheme had been set up. At the time, it was revealed staff had been spat at, groped and had patients attempt to bite them.
Staff training has also been provided with the aim of trying to "manage violent and aggressive situations appropriately."
Furthermore, the presence of security guards with body-worn cameras have been increased at Darent Valley Hospital and these are on call if a difficult situation arises.
A spokesman for the trust said: "The trust has an excellent relationship with the local community and the support during this difficult time has been truly heart-warming.
"Unfortunately this is tainted by the very few people who choose to behave aggressively.
"The public do need to understand that as a trust we are highly committed to protecting our fantastic staff and will not, therefore tolerate threatening or abusive behaviour towards them."
In February 2019, a nurse at the hospital was been left with "life changing" injuries after she was attacked by a patient.
The NHS worker, in her 40s, was left needing surgery on a fractured leg when a man is said to have strangled her with his walking stick before stamping on and kicking her while she lay unconscious on the hospital floor.
At the time police launched an investigation, but it is not known if the man was charged in relation to the incident.
