STAFF at Bristol's eight city centre hospitals are among the
safest from violent assault of any hospital workers in the
country.
Those working at hospitals managed by University Hospitals
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust (UHBristol), which includes the
Bristol Royal Infirmary, are at a dramatically lower risk of attack
than counterparts at neighbouring hospital trusts, figures released
today show.
There were only 13 assaults against UHBristol's 7,700 staff
during 2006-7, a decrease of two on 2005-6, statistics published by
the NHS Security Management Service reveal.
It means there were only 1.7 attacks for every 1,000 members of
UHBristol's staff. The next best figure achieved by neighbouring
hospital trusts was 10 attacks per 1,000.
The assaults on UHBristol staff have been punished by sentences
ranging from anti-social behaviour orders to eight-month prison
sentences.
UHBristol's head of security, Paul Wood, said: "The Trust's
staff do crucial work to help the public and it is completely
unacceptable that they should face violence and aggression in the
course of their jobs.
"One assault is one assault too many but we are pleased that
there were fewer attacks than the previous year. Our remarkably low
figures demonstrate that we are making continuing progress in
tackling violence."
He attributed that success to the training all Trust staff
received in combating physical assaults and aggression and to the
specialist training of security staff which equipped them to defuse
potential violence.
"Our security officers maintain a very visible presence around
our hospitals and I think that the word has spread that violence
against our staff will not be tolerated," he added.
All Trust security staff also undergo training that includes law
and restraint techniques such as cuffing. The team was one of the
first in the NHS to introduce body armour and handcuffs and one of
the first to set up an on-site police liaison unit.
The Security Management Service (SMS) statistics, released to
mark NHS Security Awareness Month, show that there were 55,709
physical assaults against health service staff across England,
2,986 fewer than 2005-6.
UHBristol's outstanding performance in the SMS survey comes
shortly after the Trust's own annual security report revealed huge
progress in protecting patients, visitors and staff from crime.
The report showed significantly reduced levels of theft,
burglary, vehicle crime and violence during 2006.
The number of burglaries was cut by more than half in comparison
with 2005, violent offences fell by 28 per cent and thefts were
reduced by 30 per cent. Vehicle crime plunged by almost 70 per
cent.
The number of arrests by the Trust's security guards and the
on-site police liaison unit rose from 70 in 2005 to 91, an increase
of 23 per cent.
The figures reflect a steady improvement in security and safety
- particularly at the BRI - since the Trust launched its crime
reduction strategy in 2003.
The Trust also retained its prestigious National Security
Inspectorate (NSI) Premier Guarding Gold award. The award, given by
organisations that consistently meet the security industry's
highest standards, is made only after rigorous checks.
UHBristol became in 2005 the first hospital in the country to
receive the Premier Gold award in any NSI category and the first
public sector organisation to be awarded Premier Gold for 'security
and vetting'.
For further information, please contact Ian Probert at the
University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust press office on
0117 342 3751.
