HL Deb 19 June 2002 vol 636 cc86-7WA
Baroness Nicol

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will publish the results of the 2000–01 survey of violent incidents, accidents involving staff and sickness absence in National Health Service trusts and health authorities in England. [HL4822]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath)

The results of the Department of Health's survey of reported violent or abusive incidents, accidents involving staff and sickness absence in National Health Service trusts and health authorities in England in 2000–01 have been placed in the Library.

The survey found that there were 84,273 reported violent or abusive incidents against staff in 2000–01. Details of the number of reported violent or abusive incidents, accidents involving staff and sickness absence by type of NHS trust are shown in the following tables. There were 108,743 reported accidents involving staff during the same period. The sickness absence rate, measured during calendar year 2000, was 4.68 per cent.

Number of reported violent or abusive incidents in 2000–01, by type of NHS trust
Type of NHS trust total number of reported1 incidents in the year estimated number of incidents per 1,000 staff per month1
acute 22,338 5
multi-service 12,019 8
ambulance 3,882 13
community/mental health2 37,053 23
mental health/learning disability 7,766 27
All NHS trusts3 84,214 10
Notes:
1 Some NHS trusts were unable to supply data. In particular, some community trusts were undergoing re-configuration. Figures in this table are for those NHS trusts which provided figures.
2 Some community NHS trusts also provide mental health and/or learning disability services.
3 Includes figures for the small number of primary care trusts which were able to supply data.

Number of reported accidents involving staff in 2000–01, by type of NHS trust
Type of NHS trust total number of reported1 accidents in the year estimated number of accidents per 1,000 staff per month1
acute 51,889 12
multi-service 21,032 14
ambulance 5,746 21
community2 22,757 15
mental health/learning disability 2,996 11
All NHS trusts3 106,348 13
Notes:
1 Some NHS trusts were unable to supply data. In particular, some community trusts were undergoing re-configuration. Figures in this table are for those NHS trusts which provided figures.
2 Some community NHS trusts also provide mental health and/or learning disability services.
3 Includes figures for the small number of primary care trusts which were able to supply data.

Average sickness absence rate in 2000, by type of NHS trust
Type of NHS Trust estimated average sickness absence rate (%)
acute 4.46
multi-service 4.67
ambulance 6.80
community 5.09
mental health/learning disability 5.23
All NHS trusts3 4.73
Notes:
1 Some NHS trusts were unable to supply data. In particular, some community trusts were undergoing re-configuration. Figures in this table are for those NHS trusts which provided figures.
2 Some community NHS trusts also provide mental health and/or learning disability services.
3 Includes figures for the small number of primary care trusts which were able to supply data.