1. UNISON Jim Devine Scottish Organiser (Health) Combating Violence Thursday, 07 November 2002

2. UNISON Why it is our concern UNISON’s annual survey - 3,000 + staff p.a. 199519982000 All staff 34% 39% 39% Nurses 42% 48% 63% Ambulance 63% 70% 69% HSE - 8 improvement notices Nov 99 - Nov 2000

3. UNISON NT’s Survey on Violence In the past three years have you been assaulted while on duty, either by a patient or patient’s relative? YESNONOT STATED 40%59%1% 58186311

4. UNISON NT’S Survey on Violence If yes, were you offered one or more of the following:- Training in aggression management 146 (25%) Counselling 65(11%) Support in pressing charges 24(4%) Other 52 (9%) None 340(59%) Total Respondents 1,455

5. UNISON International Problem Data held in different formats Nurses (comparable hospitals) in Amsterdam 15% cf Tel Aviv 45% p.a. (1990) Canada 33% of nurses p.a. (1991) Australia 23% ambulance personnel p.a. (1990) Sweden 47% of all assaults at work to health and care workers (1995) Finland 10.5% of health workers reported violent incidents (1999)

6. UNISON Combating Violence The most common aggressors/attackers were patients Of staff who experience violent/aggressive incidents less than 77% report the incident. From those staff who experience violent/aggressive incidents, but do not reported them, the most common reason given for not reporting the incident was that they consider it part of the job

7. UNISON Action Plan to Reduce NHS Staff Violence 1.The Scottish Health Minister and NHS trade unions jointly issue a Staff Charter, reminding the public that it is not part of an NHS worker’s job to be physically or verbally abused at work.

8. UNISON Action Plan to Reduce NHS Staff Violence 2.The standardisation throughout Scotland of the definition, recording and follow up of violent and potentially violent incidents for all NHS staff

9. UNISON Action Plan to Reduce NHS Staff Violence 3.An agreed training course on the management of violent or potentially violent incidents for all NHS staff and the introduction of new technology where appropriate.

10. UNISON Action Plan to Reduce NHS Staff Violence 4.The introduction of a ‘yellow and red card’ warning system to members of the public who constantly abuse NHS staff. These warnings could lead to the banning of individuals from NHS premises if they persistently physically or verbally abuse staff.

11. UNISON Action Plan to Reduce NHS Staff Violence 5.Relatives who physically abuse NHS staff must be automatically charged and prosecuted by the Procurator Fiscal.

12. UNISON Action Plan to Reduce NHS Staff Violence 6. Every Nurse in Scotland has a duty of care to her/himself and to her/his colleagues, to use the reporting system for every incident, and accept and expect that zero tolerance is not just the preferred but the only option