HC Deb 11 May 2004 vol 421 cc316-8W
Helen Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS trusts have(a) met the targets for reducing assaults on staff, (b) failed to meet those targets and (c) reported an increase in such assaults in the latest period for which figures are available. [169462]

Mr. Hutton

[holding answer 4 May 2004]: A Health Circular issued in 1999, entitled Working Together, required health bodies to have systems in place to record incidents of violence and aggression against national health service staff and set targets for reducing violence and aggression by 20 per cent. by 2001 and by 30 per cent. by 2002. These targets were incorporated in the Improving Working Lives standard in October 2000.

As part of the Working Together initiative, the Department undertook a national survey to identify the reported incidents of violence and aggression. The first survey, conducted in 2000–01, identified 84,214 incidents. The following survey, conducted in 2001–02, showed an increase on the previous year to 112,000 incidents.

Figures from the Department for 2002–03 show a three per cent. increase in reported incidents to 116,000 on the previous year.

The National Health Service Security Management Service (SMS) assumed policy and operational responsibility for the management of security in the NHS in April 2003. This remit includes work previously carried out under the NHS Zero Tolerance campaign. In November 2003, the SMS introduced a new framework for tackling violence against NHS staff, including consistent definitions of physical and non-physical assault and a national reporting system for physical assaults. The SMS is currently developing robust methodologies to identify the true nature and scale of the problem of violence—to measure both the perception as well as the reality.

Helen Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to reduce the number of assaults on NHS staff who work in clients' homes; and if he will make a statement. [169463]

Mr. Hutton

[holding answer 4 May 2004]: The national health service Security Management Service (SMS) assumed policy and operational responsibility for the management of security in the NHS in April 2003. This remit includes work previously carried out under the NHS "Zero Tolerance" campaign.

In November 2003, the SMS introduced a new framework for tackling violence against NHS staff. A number of key practical reactive and proactive measures were introduced, among which was the development and implementation of a national syllabus for conflict resolution training to be delivered to all NHS frontline staff, with the aim of giving them the necessary skills and expertise to defuse aggressive situations before they become violent incidents.

The new national reporting system for physical assaults will allow hard accurate information about the nature of the problem to be gathered and analysed for the first time so that further practical solutions can be developed and implemented.

The SMS is exploring how best technology and other interventions can be used to better protect staff, particularly those who work alone in the community. A device based on mobile phone technology is being trialled that is designed to allow the member of staff to covertly summons assistance when faced with a threatening situation and automatically transmit their location so that appropriate help can be given.

Helen Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of assaults on NHS staff which take place(a) in clients' homes, (b) in isolated units and (c) at night. [169464]

Mr. Hutton

[holding answer 4 May 2004]: Statistics on the number of assaults on national health service staff taking place in clients' homes, isolated units and at night have not been collated centrally.

The NHS Security Management Service (SMS) assumed policy and operational responsibility for the management of security in the NHS in April 2003. This remit includes work previously carried out under the NHS "Zero Tolerance" campaign.

In November 2003, the SMS launched a new national system for the reporting and recording of physical assaults. Part of its purpose is to gather hard accurate information about the nature of assaults on NHS staff so that appropriate solutions can be developed to minimise the risk of them reoccurring.