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Hospital staff at great risk of attack and injury whilst at work
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Author: Sophie Evans
Topic: Health
Viewed: 56 time(s)
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Site: www.accident-compensation-solicitor-uk.co.uk Article
Release date: Immediate Date: 26 August 2005 Hospital staff at
great risk of attack and injury whilst at work There are
millions of people working extremely hard every day in the UK to
ensure that the public are healthy and recover from illness or
accidents. Countless medical staff around the country study hard
to become doctors and nurses and then work long hours and endure
stressful situations in order to save the lives of men women and
children every day. These people are present day saints and have
chosen the caring professions because they genuinely want to
help others. Sadly though, their efforts sometimes are not
appreciated. Figures show that each hospital in the UK reports
an average of 43 violent assaults on staff every year. From
receptionists and porters, to nurses, surgeons and doctors,
people trying hard to make others feel better, are constantly at
risk from unprovoked attack by unruly patients. Under the
Freedom of Information Act, hospitals around the country have
revealed that patients will use the nearest weapon available,
from a hot drink to a zimmer frame, in order to inflict injury
upon medical staff. In Wales figures show that a worker is
attacked every two hours, with an average of 13 attacks per day
across the country. There were around 7,500 reports of physical
and verbal abuse across Wales last year. The reasons for these
attacks range from anger about waiting times to frustration from
friends and relatives about visiting hours. Around 40% of
attacks are alcohol induced with many patients being admitted to
hospital with self inflicted drinking injuries. It is believed
that the high numbers relate to the fact that staff are now
actively encouraged to report any incident where they are
threatened or attacked. Under current law people who attack
medical staff are likely to receive a charge of assault rather
than the offence of serious assault, which is the offence people
are charged with after attacking a police officer. Calls are
being made for attacks on hospital staff to be taken more
seriously after it was revealed that of 116,000 verbal or
physical assaults carried out in 2003, only 50 led to
prosecutions. Staff are hoping for a zero tolerance approach to
violence in hospital. There are several cases where staff have
made successful compensation claims against hospitals where they
work. For example a nurse made a claim for compensation and
received ?5,000 after being attacked from behind by a patient.
She had tried to prevent the patient from attacking another and
was then attacked herself. Hospitals have a duty of care, just
like any other employer, to protect their staff from injury and
accidents at work. Even though violence appears to be
commonplace, action should be taken to reduce the risk to people
who have dedicated their lives to helping people who are sick
and in need. If you have been injured whilst at work and your
employer was to blame or did not protect you, then you are
entitled to make a claim for personal injury compensation. To
get free legal advice and a no obligation assessment of your
claim then call The Accident Compensation Solicitors on 0808 144
00 43. -ENDS- Accident Compensation Solicitors provide customers
with personal injury compensation following a non fault
accident. They work on a no win no fee basis ensuring that
customers get 100% compensation. Call 0808 144 0043 for more
information about making a claim. Editorial notes:
www.accident-compensation-solicitor-uk.co.uk provides personal
injury compensation following a non fault accident. The author:
Sophie Evans - www.accident-compensation-solicitor-uk.co.uk
About the author:
The author: Sophie Evans -
www.accident-compensation-solicitor-uk.co.uk
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