Health staff 'kicked, spat at, hit and scratched'

Health staff have been bitten, spat at, scratched, hit, kicked, sexually assaulted and abused on social media

Attacks against health and social care workers in Northern Ireland have risen sharply during the pandemic, available data suggests.

Workers have reported being bitten, spat at, hit, scratched, kicked, abused on social media and sexually assaulted.

Most of the 5,500 attacks recorded in the six months to March were physical, said a forum representing local health bodies and the Fire and Rescue Service.

It has called on politicians and the public to support their staff.

The abuse affected staff across the sector, and those targeted were often already exhausted and caring for people in difficult conditions, said the chairman of the Health and Social Care Chairs' Forum, Peter McNaney.

"This is beyond intolerable," he added.

More than 600 incidents of violence and aggression were recorded against Ambulance Service staff in the Belfast Trust

A wide range of social factors were contributing to the problem and the courts, police and the voluntary community sector should be involved in the response, said Mr McNaney.

There were 2,500 physical assaults against Belfast Trust staff during the six-month period - a 21% increase on the previous year - he added.

In the Ambulance Service alone, more than 600 incidents of violence and aggression were recorded in the last year, he added.

• Nurses 'reconsidering jobs' over physical abuse

• Spike in number of NI paramedic assaults

GPs, pharmacy, dental and ophthalmology staff had all been affected, and some had resigned as a result, said Eileen Mullan, chairwoman of the Southern Health and Social Care Trust.

"Even just in the last few days, with the uptake of the vaccinations across our centres, we've seen a significant increase in the amount of verbal abuse at those centres when people are waiting," she said.

"Some are abusing our staff while they are there.

"We need the public support too, this isn't right in any shape or form and we are asking the public to support our staff."

Health Minister Robin Swann said he took the issue "extremely seriously".

"Staff spend their working days caring for others and saving lives, and their safety should be paramount," Mr Swann said.

"It is wholly unacceptable that they should be abused or attacked in the course of their duties."

Call for more support

When firefighters were intimidated or assaulted, response times were longer and people in vulnerable situations were put at risk, said Carmel McKinney, head of the NI Fire and Rescue Service.

The HSC Chairs' Forum has written to every Stormont assembly member calling for more support.

The forum comprises the heads of 18 health department and arms-length bodies, including the HSC trusts, the Public Health Agency, Health and Social Care Board and the NI Fire and Rescue Service.

It has also called on people to remember the importance of taking practical steps to help staff, including:

• Maintaining good hand hygiene

• Ensuring indoor spaces are well-ventilated

• Wearing a mask in crowded and indoor spaces