§ Mr. BoyesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) health personnel were attacked by patients and (b) patients were attacked by doctors and other health personnel in each year since 1973.
§ Mr. SackvilleIn line with the recommendations of the Lord Skelmersdale "Advisory Committee on Violence to Staff—Report 1988", copies of which are available in the Library, the collection of data has not been centralised but all health care organisations have been recommended to have a system of reporting and recording of incidents to enable the development of an accurate data base on their cause and nature of the problems which arise. If the hon. Member has an interest in data for a particular locality he may wish to approach the individual national health service unit direct.