HC Deb 15 February 1999 vol 325 cc532-3W
Mr. Purchase

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to deal with violent attacks on nurses, doctors and other medical staff. [69120]

Mr. Denham

Violence to staff in the National Health Service is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. The Government are planning a cross-government drive to reduce the incidence of violence against staff. This has the firm support of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. and noble Friend the Lord Chancellor and my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General. The campaign will be backed up by national guidelines for action, including prevention, prosecution, sentencing, good practice and challenging targets. The overarching message of this campaign will be that violence against NHS staff is unacceptable and the Government are determined to stamp it out.