§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on steps being taken to protect NHS staff from violence. [136690]
§ Mr. DenhamA cross-government campaign "NHS zero tolerance zone" was launched on 14 October 1999, underpinned by a national target to reduce violence against staff by 20 per cent. by 2001 and by 30 per cent. by 2003. All National Health Service trusts should now have systems in place to record incidences of violence to staff, and also to have local reduction strategies in place.
Phase II of the "NHS zero tolerance zone" campaign was launched on 3 October 2000. It is aimed at reducing violence in the high risk settings, namely mental health, ambulance, community and primary care.
By April 2003, NHS employers are expected to be accredited as putting an improving working lives standard into practice, which includes applying zero tolerance to violence against staff.