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A medic was punched in the face while treating a patient at Royal Bolton Hospital - one of a growing number of assaults against medics and NHS staff. The shocking case was detailed in a report presented to hospital bosses which showed that attacks against staff had risen. The staff member suffered a burst lip by a patient requiring the highest level of care and did not have capacity.
First aid provided to the staff member Aggression and disruptive behaviour accounted for almost half of all health and safety incidents reported between April 2023 - March 2024 at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, which governs the hospital. The statistics were discussed at the most recent Bolton NHS FT Care Board meeting. (Image: Newsquest) The number of violent, aggressive or disruptive behavioural incidents between April 2023 and March 2024 had increased on the previous year from 294 to 395.
Of those 210 such incidents took place on the acute adult care division. This is believed to be due to an increase in incidents involving aggressive behaviour as well as an increased awareness amongst staff members to report such incidents, the report noted. READ MORE: One in ten Bolton people giving unpaid care, council hears Former Bolton A&E nurse to retire from NHS after 35 years Bolton looks back on five years since Covid-19 lockdown The Care Board discussed findings from the Bolton NHS FT Health and Safety annual report.
(Image: Newsquest) The statistics come less than a month after Bolton NHS FT’s annual staff survey, which revealed that on average colleagues from an ethnic background were almost five per cent more likely to experience ‘harassment, abuse or bullying’ from patients in the past twelve months at 28.27 per cent as opposed to white colleagues at 23.21 per cent on average.
A campaign titled 'No Excuse for Abuse' was launched by the trust in 2023 to tackle physical and verbal abuse towards NHS staff. The emergency unit at Royal Bolton. (Image: Newsquest) Elsewhere in the Trust’s Health and Safety Annual Report, aggressive and disruptive behaviour made up 48.
5% of all Health & Safety incidents reported between April 2023 and March 2024. Taking all incidents, 83 per cent were reported within one day of occurring, as indicative of a good timely reporting culture. In total 99.
5 per cent of Health and Safety incidents reported were of ‘no or low harm’. Three incidents, occurring in 2023/24 were rated as of ‘moderate harm’. READ MORE: Praise from patients of Royal Bolton's new discharge unit Former Bolton A&E nurse to retire from NHS after 35 years One in ten Bolton people giving unpaid care, council hears One member of staff suffered a lip injury after an altercartion.
(Image: PA) Tyrone Roberts, Chief Nursing Officer at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The vast majority of patients show kindness and respect to our staff who are there to help, however we take a zero tolerance approach to the small minority who display aggression and violence, supported by our ‘No Excuse For Abuse’ campaign. “In the past two years we have worked to increase how many staff complete training programmes that focus on keeping safe at work and reducing the risk of violence, which has seen more staff reporting incidents. “Sadly, we also recognise that aggression can happen from patients who lack capacity and act totally out of character.
Royal Bolton has issued a 'No Excuse for Abuse' campaign to raise awareness. (Image: PA) "This can be distressing for the patient, their loved ones, and staff. We have an enhanced care team who can provide specialised techniques to reduce anxiety in these situations, helping to keep the patient and staff safe.
“When it comes to falls in hospital, our falls per 1,000 bed days is 4.33, below the national average. "This is through actively encouraging patients to keep moving where they can to reduce muscle fatigue and poor mental wellbeing.
"We know there is always more we can be doing and we are looking to invest in low risk beds to increase safety and dignity and reduce the risk of falls. “Staying in a busy hospital can be unsettling, which is why we have introduced open visiting so it’s easier to see family and friends and removed mealtime restrictions to allow families who know their loved ones best to provide support and comfort.”.
