The alarming rise in violence and hostility directed towards NHS staff in England has reached a crisis point, and urgent action is needed to address this disturbing trend. A recent investigation by The Guardian has uncovered a sharp increase in the number of reported attacks in hospitals, with an average of 285 incidents each day in 2024-25.
The details shared by NHS workers are truly harrowing. One A&E nurse reported witnessing weapons being brandished on a monthly basis, and described two incidents where male patients deliberately ejaculated on nurses while waiting for treatment. A retired consultant also revealed that he had been violently assaulted twice within a matter of weeks.
The increase in racist incidents is also a grave concern. Given the diversity of the UK’s health workforce and their constant interaction with the public, NHS staff are highly exposed to rising anti-migrant sentiment. In November, Health Secretary Wes Streeting expressed shock at the impact of this “1970s, 1980s-style racism” on the NHS.
Existing duties on employers to prevent sexual harassment, including by their own staff, are being strengthened in the Employment Rights Act. However, tackling abuse and violence in healthcare remains a daunting task, with managers facing tough decisions about whether to treat people who threaten or insult. Such incidents not only harm individuals but also have consequences for entire departments and institutions.
Last year, patient satisfaction fell to a record low, with 59% of people describing themselves as dissatisfied. While some allowances can be made for patients who are mentally unwell, the current levels of hostility and violence are unacceptable. A workforce that becomes inured to such behaviour is likely to experience falling morale and provide a worse overall service.
Alarmingly, there is evidence that this crisis is affecting recruitment, with a sharp drop in the number of nurses and midwives from abroad joining the UK register between April and September last year, compared to the previous year.
Wes Streeting must empower staff to uphold standards and boundaries, and the police have a crucial role to play in ensuring that violent offenders are dealt with. The social contract of which the NHS is such a powerful symbol is stretched and frayed, but it can be mended – but only with decisive action to protect those on the frontline.
