§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what figures he uses to monitor the NHS zero tolerance campaign on assaults on NHS staff. [40802]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 8 March 2002]The National Health Service's zero tolerance zone campaign to tackle violence against NHS staff is monitored using data collected from all NHS trusts and health authorities to a common definition issued in Health Service Circular 1999/229: "Working Together, Securing a Quality Workforce for the NHS: Managing Violence, Accidents and Sickness Absence in the NHS", a copy of which is in the Library.
Figures on reported violent incidents in 2000–01 are currently being analysed by the Department and will form the baseline for measuring progress against the Government's national improvement targets.