§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had, and with whom, about giving greater support to nursing staff working in accident and emergency units at NHS hospitals in the Greater London area to combat violence towards staff from the general public.[125767]
§ Ms StuartWe are determined to ensure that National Health Service staff who spend their lives caring for others are not rewarded with intimidation and violence. Violence to staff is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
"Working Together", the national human resources strategic framework for the NHS, sets out a number of HR targets and priorities for NHS employers. One of these concerns violence to staff. NHS employers have been asked to put in place systems for the recording and monitoring of violent incidents and to meet targets to reduce these by 20 per cent. by 2001 and 30 per cent. by 2003. Regional offices of the NHS Executive are asked to monitor progress against these targets. The London Regional Office through its performance management processes will be measuring progress against these targets in 2001.