Healthcare workers in A&E departments endure physical attacks and verbal threats due to prolonged wait times.
In the heart of east London, a senior A&E nurse, Sarah Tappy, was left unconscious after being brutally punched by a patient. This unfortunate incident is part of a concerning trend, as physical assaults on healthcare workers in A&E departments across 89 NHS trusts in England have almost doubled between 2019 and 2024, climbing from 2,093 incidents to 4,054[1][2][3][4][5].
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has been vocal about the issue, reporting that 12-hour A&E waits have surged more than twentyfold since 2019, contributing heavily to patient frustration and aggression[1][3][4]. The RCN believes that the rising tide of violence against NHS staff is a significant issue that requires immediate attention[1].
Corridor care, where patients are treated in hospital corridors due to lack of space, leaves both patients and staff vulnerable to stress and violence[1][3][4]. This practice, born out of necessity due to chronic understaffing, creates high-stress environments that escalate tensions among patients.
The consequences of this violence are far-reaching. According to RCN general secretary and chief executive Professor Nicola Ranger, violence leads to physical and mental scarring, lengthy time off, and sometimes staff never returning[1]. The RCN and other health leaders warn that without addressing these systemic issues, violence against staff will continue to rise, undermining patient safety and NHS workforce sustainability[1][3][4].
Proposed solutions focus on urgent government investment to reduce waiting times, end corridor care, and improve staff recruitment and retention. The Liberal Democrats have proposed an additional solution: providing A&E staff with a direct line to the police via a panic button[6].
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has expressed his dismay over the findings of the rising violence against A&E staff and has stated that the government aims to eradicate violence against NHS staff by "shining a light" on the extent of the issue[7]. The government is committed to ending violence against A&E staff by addressing the issue of "corridor care" in the NHS[7].
She stated that the government’s plans to reform the NHS would fail if the issue of violence is left unaddressed[4]. The Liberal Democrats, too, consider violence against hospital staff as abhorrent and want perpetrators to face the full force of the law[8].
As the situation stands, this issue reflects a strong consensus among nursing unions, NHS data, and government calls for action[1][2][3][4][5]. The health and safety of our dedicated healthcare workers, who tirelessly dedicate their lives to helping others, should be a top priority for all[2][6][7].
[1] https://www.rcn.org.uk/news-and-events/news/rcn-calls-for-urgent-action-to-protect-nhs-staff-from-rising-violence [2] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-62081803 [3] https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/apr/22/nhs-staff-subjected-to-hundreds-of-attacks-every-day-report-reveals [4] https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/nhs-staff-attacked-by-violent-patients-in-record-numbers-7r79r6r3c [5] https://www.nursingtimes.net/news/workforce/nhs-staff-attacked-by-violent-patients-in-record-numbers-9-88794.article [6] https://www.libdems.org.uk/protecting-nhs-staff-from-violence [7] https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-to-support-nhs-staff-who-are-subject-to-violence [8] https://www.libdems.org.uk/news/liberal-democrats-call-for-rapid-action-to-protect-nhs-staff-from-violence-and-abuse
