As University Hospitals Tees continues to raise awareness of our zero-tolerance approach to violence against staff, urgent care nurse practitioner Emma Francis has shared an experience she had at the University Hospital of North Tees with a regular department attender who has a history of violence towards staff.
Emma explained: “I saw the patient in the triage room to ensure another member of staff was also present, discussing that I would start by taking some observations and blood pressure.
“It was at this point when putting on the blood pressure cuff the patient lashed out and punched me with a closed fist in the stomach. Security and the site manager attended and assisted with removing the patient from the department and checking I was okay.
“At that moment initially I felt quite shocked and frightened as I hadn’t been intentionally physically assaulted by a patient prior to then, but then quite upset as it had been a pleasant exchange prior to that sudden change in mood and was so unexpected.
“I remember I was physically shaking for some time after it had happened.
More wary of environment
“Following that I was a lot more wary of my environment and how close I was to patients. I found I was always checking that I had a clear exit route should I need it.
“For some time after I had a lot of anxiety as soon as I saw a patient had a flag in their notes that said tendency to violence and more often than not asked if another member of staff would be in the room with me whilst I carried out my assessment if they did.
“I think I also felt a certain degree of anger that someone could come to my place of work where I was there to help them and be treated like that. It made me feel quite vulnerable in my role and affected how made I felt in my workplace.
“I have to admit after I did look for non-clinical positions as I wasn’t sure I wanted to be patient facing anymore, especially as violence towards staff was becoming more of a regular occurrence.
“And even now if I’m in the same vicinity as a violent patient it makes me incredibly anxious whereas before I may have been able to handle it better.”
Treating NHS staff with respect
From prosecuting violent offenders and refusing treatment to abusive patients, to introducing body-worn cameras for clinical staff, University Hospitals Tees is highlighting how it is taking a zero-tolerance approach to violence against staff.
She said: “Being assaulted should never be considered part of working in healthcare.
“We are there to care for people, but staff deserve to feel safe and supported at work too.
“Violence can and does have a lasting impact, and it’s certainly changed the way I carry out my work as I am a lot more cautious now.
“Please treat healthcare workers with respect, even when you’re frightened, frustrated or unwell.
“Staff are people too, and everyone deserves to be able to do their job without being assaulted. It should never be brushed off or seen as something we’re expected to accept.”