A report published today by NHS Resolution highlights how workplace violence in the NHS can be prevented and reduced by ensuring high-quality, accurate risk assessments that acknowledge and mitigate the risks of escalating violence are undertaken.
‘Learning from workplace violence claims within the NHS: a thematic review’ contains a review of over 5,000 claims in England and identifies themes and trends in compensation claims for incidents related to violence at work received by NHS Resolution’s Liabilities to Third Parties Scheme (LTPS). The number of work-related violence claims notified to LTPS increased by 43% from 2010/11 to 2019/20.
The report found that a compassionate response and package of support for those members of staff who have been involved in an incident of violence in the workplace is essential to retaining and protecting staff and making them feel safe and respected.
Six areas of focus were identified by experts including representatives from NHS England’s Violence Prevention and Reduction team, The Social Partnership Forum and the Health and Safety Executive. These are areas that NHS organisations should consider to reduce incidents of workplace violence.
The new report aligns with the findings in the Health and Safety Executive Violence at Work Statistics 2020 report. It highlighted that healthcare professionals encounter a higher-than-average risk of workplace violence.
Each one of these claims represents a member of NHS staff who has experienced the physical and psychological distress of being involved in an incident of violence at work. The report illustrates the impact this has on those staff and the patients they care for. It is vital that staff are safe and protected at work and the learning which is drawn from these claims will help to prevent these incidents happening in the future
Megan Bidder, Director of Safety and Learning, NHS Resolution
The figures in this report shine a shocking light on the level of violence and aggression many nursing staff face every day while doing their job caring for patients.
This kind of behaviour is never acceptable and yet it can be a daily occurrence for many healthcare workers.
While the financial cost can be measured, the physical and emotional toll can be far longer lasting, and staff must be fully supported when such incidents occur.
Employers must also do more to protect staff as they do their jobs and create an environment where they can report incidents and know they will be taken seriously, and action will be taken.
Kim Sunley, RCN Head of Health, Safety and Wellbeing
The workplace violence claims thematic review supports the growing research into the impact of workplace violence on the health and social care system. The impact of these incidents is wide ranging and affects those directly and indirectly involved, often creating legal, financial and moral implications.
The areas of focus identified within the report are highly relevant to the health and social care system and I believe will support the violence prevention and reduction agenda. It is vital that organisations embrace the recommendations which are linked with the NHS England Violence Prevention and Reduction Standard.
Working with system partners including NHS Resolution and NHS England has allowed my organisation to innovate and improve our response to incidents of workplace violence.
Alan Gallagher, Head of Regulatory Services for the North East Ambulance Service
We would like to compliment NHS Resolution for their thematic review and for the quality of the report that they have produced to share insights from claims that have been brought by NHS staff who have experienced workplace violence. We thank them for involving the Social Partnership Forum (SPF) in the review and the development of the report.
The SPF will continue to work with NHS Resolution and other national bodies, along with regions, systems, and NHS organisations to support action on the focus areas and future considerations identified in the report. We all need to do our utmost to ensure staff do not have to face violence and abuse as part of their job, but if they do, they receive the support they need.
Helga Pile and Danny Mortimer, co-chairs of the NHS Employers The Social Partnership Forum
As well as the physical and psychological cost to the staff members involved in these claims, it is important to recognise that the impact of these incidents of harm extends much wider than just the cost to NHS, including staff absences and attrition, placing more pressure on the healthcare system.
Learning from workplace violence claims within the NHS: A thematic review – NHS Resolution
ENDS
Notes to editors:
1. The purpose of this thematic review is specifically to share insights from claims that have been brought by NHS staff who have experienced workplace violence exhibited by patients in their care.
2. The detailed report covers includes 5,287 claims, of these 4,674 were closed, and only claims that had an incident date of between 2010/2011 and 2019/2020 were included in the report. The report also includes a qualitative analysis of 40 successful claims to draw out themes in the incidents. The total cost of the closed claims was £61.4 million.
