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.

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

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.


AddThis Social Bookmark Button


From You Flowers. LLC

In The News:


IBTimes

A Lifetime of Career Changes
Wall Street Journal (blog)
“The declining job duration and declining probability of long-term employment clearly implies that individuals are changing jobs more,†Farber said. ...
Seven Careers in a Lifetime? Think Twice, Researchers SayWall Street Journal

all 34 news articles »

What Labor Day Means to Me
Huffington Post (blog)
... post-employment services, including skills training, job search assistance, job retention support, and other career programs tailored to their needs. ...


UCO to host career fair
Edmond Sun
Free and open to the public, the fair will feature various local and national organizations that will be on hand to discuss full-time employment, ...

and more »

UN researchers criticize UN anti-poverty plan
BusinessWeek
Hot Careers in Internet Marketing Get prepared for your new career with online degrees from Full Sail University! T. Rowe Price No-load mutual funds and ...

and more »

Charlotte Observer

For young blacks, few jobs
Charlotte Observer
As plentiful research shows, young people who can't get steady employment at the onset of their careers have lower lifetime earnings. ...

and more »

CACI Receives Excellence in Innovation Recognition for Deploying Talent ...
MarketWatch (press release)
It was specifically developed to provide meaningful careers for talented veterans with disabilities. The company recognized that the re-employment of ...

and more »

Warning over cut to Surrey Connexions funding
BBC News
Cuts to a careers advice service will create a generation of young people "lost to employment and training", campaigners have warned. ...
Calls for council u-turn on funding for youngstersEagle Radio

all 2 news articles »

Indie Wire (blog)

'Going the Distance': Career Fantasy and Relationship Nightmare
Indie Wire (blog)
Also, I didn't get into the interesting issue of “Going the Distance†being entirely filmed in NYC (Erin's initial place of employment, supposedly somewhere ...

and more »

Young Canadians downgrade expectations as their dreams of economic security fade
Vancouver Sun
That wake-up call could be especially jarring for 20-some-things launching their careers. As a young man, Blaine Higgs had relatively modest career goals: ...

and more »

What can spur hiring?
Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)
Switching careers is not going to work, networking in the career field you have experience in makes it happen. Obviously, this community activist for ...

and more »
Google News

__________

Games at Buy.com

Kingston, Sandisk, Viewsonic, Canon, Toshiba

Seven Tips to a Job-Winning Interview

These days, interviews don't come easily. When you get The Call, make the most of your time -- and go for it!1. Investigate the company's culture, markets,... Read More

10 Steps to Getting the Most Out of Job Fairs

Many job seekers tend to overlook job fairs. They can be crowded, busy, competitive and confusing events. But they offer you the opportunity to contact many potential... Read More

Hot Business Trends for 2004? And Beyond: Maybe One Will Turn Into a Creative Business Idea for You

I always look forward to the December issue of Entrepreneur magazine. That's the issue that features the publisher's annual pick of hot businesses, markets, and trends... Read More

10 Steps to Escape the Job World and Create the Life You Really Want

1. GET THE POINT ? OF LIFE, THAT IS. How many of us will look back in our old age and wish we'd gone to more... Read More

Stacking The Deck In Your Favor

Many people do not bother to look at their own magnificence and without that view it is not likely that we will recognize the need for strategies... Read More

Your Goals Must Be Within Your Reach

FIRST STEP -- Set short-term, incremental goals. Work up to larger plans later. Never put yourself under the gun right from the get-go. If... Read More

Defining Success Your Way!

In my career advising practice, I often find that my clients are not clear about what success means for them. Our society defines success primarily around three... Read More

What Turns Potential Employers ON; What Turns Them OFF?

According to an annual survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, these are the most important qualities that employers are looking for in a... Read More

Six Factors That Can Cost You the Interview-Job

Most job seekers know that an unprofessional appearance will count against them at an interview. Here are six MORE factors that can help you remain in the... Read More

Job Interviews & the Magic of Music

Can music help you with your next job interview? It just might! Here's how. First, it can help you during your research, preparation and practice.... Read More

When and How to Say I Just Cant Do It!

We naturally hesitate to tell our boss when we can't do something or are feeling overwhelmed in our job. Bosses don't want to hear that, right? Well,... Read More

Hey, You Cant Ask Me That! (How to Respond to Inappropriate Job Interview Questions)

I received the following questions from a visitor to my website recently: "How should I respond to inappropriate questions such as: (1) Do you have a stable... Read More

Loving What You Do

Man is a social animal and survival is his major need. There are needs that he needs be fulfill. The needs can be physical, mental, emotional and... Read More

Creating a Feng Shui Power Office: 6 Easy Tips to More Successful Surroundings

More and more people are looking to gain an edge in their working environments. One method that business people are increasingly turning to is feng shui. Feng... Read More

Spiritual Practices Offer Peace and Acceptance

Facing career transitions and daily life challenges can leave us feeling lonely, stressed and anxious. How do we manage to deal with the financial and emotional stress... Read More

How to Give Job-Winning Answers at Interviews

Human Resources personnel, professional recruiters and various other career experts all agree: one of the best ways to prepare yourself for a job interview is to anticipate... Read More

Success at Work : People Skills : Networking

Getting along with your co-workers is critical to yourhappiness and success at work. You may find yourselfspending more time with your co-workers than with yourspouse and family.... Read More

Creating Your Own Luck

Losing my job in the last recession of the last century, I discovered first hand the power of creating your own luck. A week later,... Read More

American Idol Syndrome

I like Simon, one of three judges on American Idol. I find his feedback refreshingly honest. And while his words startle me with their ego... Read More

Resume Tips To Take You From SAHM to WAHM

When looking for a telecommuting position, it is very important to have your resume in tip-top shape. This is often the only thing that a potential employer... Read More

Any Job is an Honorable Job

Seeing your job as an honorable job, adds more meaning and peace to your life. Also, seeing the honor in what you do now, creates an ideal... Read More

How To Get More Interviews In Your Job Search

Richard Bolles, job search guru and author of What Color Is Your Parachute? predicts that you can expect to search for work 1-2 months for every $10,000... Read More

12 Steps to Targeting Success in Your Career or Job Search

Is your job search sagging? Are you still looking for that ideal next job? Or are you about to begin looking for new work and are not... Read More

Handling the Dreaded Why Did You Leave? Question

If you left your last job under less-than-ideal circumstances, you probably dread the "Why did you leave?" question that almost always comes up at job interviews. Here's... Read More

Seven Steps to Making a Successful Career Change

My first job was secretary to Moses. Having to transcribe and make 2,430 copies of the Ten Commandments convinced me I was on the wrong career path!... Read More