It is time to stop all attacks on NHS heroes as shock new figures reveal the scale of assaults against NHS Highland frontline staff – SNP MSP Fergus Ewing has promised to raise the issue with Scotland’s health secretary Humza Yousaf
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Attacks on NHS Highland staff branded “cowardly and utterly unacceptable” will be highlighted to Scotland’s health secretary by a leading local politician.
SNP MSP Fergus Ewing made the vow to speak to party colleague Humza Yousaf about a Courier investigation which has discovered more than one physical or verbal attack a day on average had been recorded by the health board over a three-year period.
His fellow politicians have also condemned shocking levels of attacks against frontline NHS staff in the Highlands.
According to figures obtained by the Inverness Courier through a Freedom of Information request there were a total of 1443 verbal and physical assaults against NHS Highland staff in the Inverness and Nairn area between April 2018 and March 2021 – more than one per day.
The figures show that between April 1, 2018, and March 31, 2019, there were 381 physical assaults and 73 verbal attacks.
Between April 1, 2019, and March 31, 2020, they had risen to a staggering 448 physical attacks and 77 incidents where staff were verbally abused.
However, between April 1, 2020, and March 31 this year they had fallen to 398 physical assaults and 66 verbal attacks – but this coincided with the pandemic when people appreciated NHS staff more.
Mr Ewing, the MSP for Inverness and Nairn, said: "Any attack on any NHS staff is a criminal assault and obviously deplorable behaviour.
“I will raise these stats directly with the health secretary, who I am sure will work with NHS Highland and Police Scotland, to do all possible to protect our NHS staff who are after all trying to help and heal people.”
He said such attacks were “cowardly and utterly unacceptable”.
Drew Hendry, the MP for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, said: “Absolutely no one should have to tolerate abusive behaviour while trying to do their job, especially workers who put their lives on the line every day to protect our families.
"Thankfully the overwhelming majority of people are, rightly, grateful to NHS workers and will share my disgust at these incidents.”
Highlands and Islands MSP Ariane Burgess said: “I find the figures very distressing and I hope the workers who have been assaulted have been supported in the aftermath of these incidents.
"Any assault on healthcare workers is too high. No one should have to fear assault in their workplace.
"NHS frontline staff do an incredible job under the most trying of circumstances and absolutely should be respected."
She said she hoped action would be taken to better protect staff and NHS Highland would review security protocols and hopefully the number would be reduced.
"This has been an unprecedented few years for the NHS and staff are under more pressure than ever, we need to make sure that we don’t lose even more skilled and dedicated NHS workers," she added.
"It is my profound hope that these workers have suffered no long term or mental health problems and have been given the proper support in the wake of these incidents.”
Fellow Highlands and Islands MSP Rhoda Grant said the figures were very concerning to hear and added: "This year our NHS workers have experienced increased pressures and staff shortages.
"To see no significant improvement in physical and verbal abuse over the last three years is just salt to a wound really.
“One incident of physical or verbal abuse is one too many and I hope NHS Highland looks at what can be done to improve this situation.”
Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch MSP Kate Forbes said: “At a time when frontline medics continue to go above and beyond, I am simply disgusted to see such high figures of assaults on NHS Highland staff. It is utterly unacceptable.
“Whether you are a nurse, a doctor, a receptionist, a call handler or a porter, everyone should be able to come into work without fear of violence, injury or abuse.”
Highlands and Islands MSP Edward Mountain said: “For three years in a row these figures have remained shockingly high. NHS Highland staff should never have to face verbal or physical attacks.
"A zero tolerance approach must be taken and that must mean those found guilty of attacking health care staff receive the full force of the law. We must look after our hardworking health care professionals, who do so much to look after us.”
And Caithness, Sutherland and Ross MSP Maree Todd said: “It’s concerning to learn of the assault figures on NHS workers in the Highlands.
“It is unacceptable that physical and verbal assaults are taking place against healthcare workers who are providing treatment and care for patients.
"Everyone deserves to be treated with respect in their place of work.
“Under the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Bill, it is an offence to attack those who are providing emergency services and a person found guilty of an assault can face imprisonment, a fine or both.
"When an assault does take place, it’s important that the offence is reported to the health board to enable support and allow for an investigation to take place.
“Our healthcare workers have been our most valuable asset throughout the pandemic, they deserve our heartfelt appreciation and gratitude.”
An NHS Highland spokeswoman: "All colleagues working in health and social care should be treated with respect. Any deliberate act of violence and/or aggression towards our teams is rightly condemned and reported.
"However, we are also mindful that many of the patients seen, particularly in New Craigs Hospital which looks after our mental health and learning disability patients, will have a condition that at times means they can find it difficult to manage their emotions, perceptions and feelings.
“Patients across a wide range of settings can also have a number of conditions which can result in patients being disorientated, confused, hypoxic, brain injured or just plain scared.
“To support our staff we have violence and aggression training in place, they are actively encouraged to report any incident and support is also available for those who it has impacted on.”
