Anti-abuse campaign urges 'be kind to my mummy'

Children involved in the campaign said they were proud of their parents and wanted to highlight the importance of working in a safe environment

Children of healthcare workers in Jersey have fronted a campaign to protect staff from aggressive, violent and abusive behaviour at work.

Staff reported more than 450 incidents of verbal, physical, racial or sexual abuse so far this year, according to the island's government.

Its campaign, which includes posters, roadside banners and social media posts, features the children and slogans such as: "My mummy works here. Please keep her safe at work".

The Minister for Health and Social Services said: "It should go without saying that healthcare workers should be able to go about their work without being subject to unacceptable behaviour from any member of the public."

Health and Care Jersey has a clinical nurse specialist helping workers understand why someone might get agitated

Of the 452 incidents reported between January and August, more than half were physical. Nine of those were reports of sexual abuse and six involved the use of a weapon, said the government.

A Prevention and Management of Violence and Aggression course has been launched by the health department to help workers understand why someone might get agitated and what they can do to stop things becoming violent.

Clinical nurse specialist Dennis Pimblott, who delivers the course, said he hoped it would empower colleagues and support those involved in "difficult situations".

'I want everyone to be kind'

Malachi and his sister Michaella have appeared in the campaign in support of their dad, who is a charge nurse.

He said: "I wanted to be in this campaign to highlight the importance of nurses working in a safe environment and not to be abused."

Seven-year-old Ted, whose mum works in the mental health team, said: "My mummy helps lots of people with poorly minds. I want everyone to be kind to my mummy when she is in work because it will make me sad if my mummy is sad."

Earlier this year Jersey's ambulance service urged islanders to treat medical workers with respect following a rise in the number of physically and racially-motivated attacks.

Health minister Deputy Tom Binet said the health service had a zero-tolerance approach to abuse and treated "any assault against a member of staff very seriously".