NHS staff in Dumfries and Galloway are facing more violent attacks from patients than before the pandemic.
New figures from a survey carried out by Unison have revealed that NHS staff in Dumfries and Galloway were subjected to a total of 150 violent attacks over a 12 month period.
The survey is the first of its kind since the coronavirus pandemic and involved 18 health boards providing data under a Freedom of Information request by the trade union.
Before the pandemic the number of attacks had begun to fall but the situation has since got steadily worse despite the added pressures being placed on frontline medical and ambulance staff.
Unison believe the increase in reported assaults has been the result of campaigning to have violence at work taken seriously by employers as well as staff and the public.
A spokesperson for the union said: “NHS staff should expect a safe and secure workplace. We urge NHS boards to take a positive zero tolerance approach towards tackling the problem of violence at work.”
Galloway and West Dumfries MSP Finlay Carson described the increase as “wholly unacceptable” while insisting a tougher stance must now be taken to protect NHS workers.
He said: “One assault on a worker who is providing valuable public service is one assault too many.
“What worries me is the fact that this might just be the tip of the iceberg as many incidents go unreported for a variety of reasons such as causing additional stress to staff already frightened or simply exhausted.
“Everything possible must be done by the NHS health boards to make it easier for employees to report violence or even threats and that the information is acted upon.”
