Lib Dems call for Zero Tolerance against NHS staff violence in East Kent Hospitals University NHS Trust

Local Liberal Democrat Lynne Beaumont has called for stronger action to protect NHS staff after figures were released that show a shocking amount of violence against staff.

The figures released after a parliamentary question show that East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust has seen 116 cases of violence in the last year.

Lynne has called for stronger action to protect staff and called for the message to go out that there is zero tolerance for violence against doctors and nurses.

Nationally, violence against NHS staff has risen 24% since 2008. and figures show that 68,683 assaults were recorded last year alone.

Lynne Beaumont said:

"These figures are massively troubling. The dedication demonstrated night and day by our health workers is extraordinary.

"Unfortunately, however, not only are they being forced to work under the increasingly chaotic circumstances of burgeoning waiting times and growing patient anxiety, now their principal aim of protecting the public is being hampered by the requirement to first protect themselves."

Tim Farron, Liberal Democrat leader added:

"Our NHS staff should never be expected to suffer an assault at work and it will not be tolerated. No member of staff should come to work in the NHS and be subjected to or even fear assault.

"The fact that assaults are increasing is a matter of grave concern.

"I am particularly concerned that this increase could be due, in part, to increased waiting times and an NHS which is struggling to cope with the greater demands and less funding than is needed."