'Hospitals Buy Spit Shields as Patient Abuse Reaches Disgraceful Levels'

A veteran medical professional explained that their hospital trust was allocating funds towards purchasing spit shields for personnel when they were questioned regarding aggressive emergency department patients.

Deepak Dwarakanath, who serves as a site medical director at North Tees, Hartlepool NHS A Foundation Trust, when questioned by Councillor Craig Hannaway about whether aggression towards employees had intensified, responded with a concise "Yes."

He stated: "This is both verbal and physical abuse. We have approved the acquisition of some spit guards [for employees], as you can likely guess their purpose."

The mother believed she was experiencing a headache but actually had a stroke several days following her childbirth.
A vehicle crashes into the entryway of a Morrison’s supermarket as astonished customers watch.

I simply find it appalling from a personal standpoint.

Members of the Tees Valley Joint Health Scrutiny Committee, who convened for a meeting, Redcar During a segment discussing the release of the trust’s 'quality account' – mandatory yearly reports detailing the standard of healthcare services offered – Councillor Hannaway brought up the topic. He enquired whether the police responded sufficiently to violent scenarios. In response, Dr Dwarakanath highlighted that the trust aimed to "defuse" such events through de-escalation techniques and staff training before potentially involving law enforcement.

He mentioned that there are multiple patient groups which might exhibit abusive behavior, such as individuals who are unwell and "confused," along with people who occasionally end up waiting for longer periods than what we would like them to endure.

Dr Dwarakanath stated: "People often reach their breaking point and usually resort to verbal abuse when faced with such circumstances. Unfortunately, an increasing number of individuals are also affected by different substances."

We bear a responsibility for care, and handling these circumstances isn't as straightforward as it might seem — nobody comes to work here intending to face abuse of any sort.

A spokesperson for the trust mentioned they maintained "a productive collaborative partnership." Cleveland Police , who would be available to attend hospital sites as needed and maintain a presence in the Emergency Department (A&E). Additionally, there was a team focused on staff safety, exploring various measures including the use of body-worn cameras.

She stated: "The primary focus is ensuring our employees feel supported, and we urge them to document every incident they encounter—be it verbal or physical aggression. Without these reports, we wouldn't obtain an authentic and precise tally of the numbers."

Stockton Councillor Lynn Hall expressed her shock at the issue, stating: "We ought to promote reporting every instance of aggression among staff members. This behaviour is unacceptable and falls under our zero-tolerance policy."

The 2024 NHS Staff Survey revealed that approximately 14.3% of NHS employees in the health care field have encountered physical violence from patients, family members, or individuals from the general public. Additionally, the survey indicated that about 25% reported experiencing harassment, bullying, or abuse from these sources.

The former CEO of NHS England, Amanda Pritchard, once stated that most patients and the general public exhibit only admiration and gratitude towards the proficient care they get. However, she also highlighted how the inappropriate conduct of just a few individuals significantly affects the professional and personal life of healthcare workers.

A national initiative for preventing and reducing violence is underway, designed to assist NHS bodies and frameworks in fostering an environment where personnel feel valued, safeguarded, and secure within their workplaces.

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