A Nottinghamshire hospital trust has introduced body-worn cameras for its security staff in a bid to tackle the rising abuse of its workers. Sherwood Forest Hospitals (SFH) also said staff had the right to refuse treatment to abusive patients as a 'last resort'.
More than 20 per cent of its workers have experienced physical violence at work from patients and the public in the last 12 months, according to the recently published NHS Staff Survey. It also found that 27 per cent had experienced harassment, bullying or abuse.
The NHS trust, which runs King's Mill Hospital, Mansfield Community Hospital and Newark Hospital, said it "cannot be clearer that such behaviour has no place within our hospitals". SFH gave all its security staff body-worn cameras from March 1.
Read more: Shocking rise in violent attacks on NHS staff in Nottinghamshire hospitals are condemned
When responding to an incident, security will be able to turn their cameras on after issuing a warning. The devices have not been needed yet but have been useful in deescalating situations, the trust said.
Julie Hogg, Chief Nurse at SFH, said the "vast majority" of patients and visitors "treat our staff, volunteers and their fellow patients and visitors with the respect they deserve". However, she added: “Everyone has the right to come to work without fear of violence and abuse and while incidents of that nature are rare, we cannot be clearer that such behaviour has no place within our hospitals: it will not be tolerated and we will do all we can to keep our staff, volunteers, patients and visitors safe.”
The 2021 NHS Staff Survey, which was carried out between September and November last year, rated SFH as the best acute trust to work for in the Midlands for the fourth year running. It ranked as the third most compassionate and caring acute trust in the country, with a score of 7.6 out of 10.
Almost three quarters of staff said they would recommend it as a place to work, with 80 per cent recommending it as a place to receive treatment for friends and relatives. SFH also ranked well in terms of morale.
Across England, the average number of staff who 'often' thought about leaving their job reached a three year high (31 per cent), however the number stood significantly lower at 21 per cent for SFH. Some elements of the survey did follow worrying national trends, such as a drop in pay satisfaction and staffing levels.
Chief Executive, Paul Robinson, said: "We know from experience that staff provide the very best care to patients when they feel valued, supported and listened to through open conversations and surveys like this, which is why it’s so pleasing to be rated so highly as a place that staff would recommend for their own friends and relatives to receive treatment.
"We place a real emphasis on the wellbeing of our team and although we have so much to be proud of from these results, we also know that staff across the NHS are feeling the strain of working through the pandemic. That’s why it’s so important that we continue the work we’re doing to make Sherwood Forest Hospitals an even better place to work.
“Thank you to all colleagues and volunteers working across the organisation for the commitment you have shown once again this year and for being there for each other. It is you that makes Sherwood Forest Hospitals a truly great place to work”
