A hospital in Swindon has relaunched a campaign to tackle violence and abuse against NHS staff, after surveys showed many workers do not report incidents. The Great Western Hospital (GWH) first introduced the 'Never OK' strategy in 2016 but decided to revive it after the 2024 NHS staff survey revealed that only half of staff who experienced harassment, bullying or abuse would report it, and only two-thirds would report violence.
Hugo, an advanced clinical practitioner at GWH's A&E department, described being subjected to homophobic abuse and threats from a drunk patient who grabbed a crutch and swung it around. Police were called and the patient was arrested. Hugo said he has been kicked, spat at, pushed and intimidated during his career, adding: 'It's still upsetting and psychologically exhausting to deal with.'
The campaign is supported by Wiltshire Police, who surveyed 600 hospital workers and found that verbal aggression, physical violence and sexual assault had become more frequent. Police liaison officer PC Becky Berni said: 'This has had a profound impact on frontline staff, with some living in fear of what they may face at work.' She noted that while some incidents involved patients who could not help their behaviour due to illness, 'the majority of perpetrators act intentionally and with full understanding of their actions'.
Darren Pearson, deputy divisional director of nursing at GWH and chair of the Never OK working group, said: 'We come to work to do our jobs and look after people, and we do that well. Nobody should have to experience or tolerate these behaviours.' The campaign includes a video featuring staff sharing their experiences of abuse, from being bruised to being strangled or punched.
Wiltshire Police have developed a training course to help staff recognise offences and support victims. Berni emphasised that cultural change is needed: 'If someone on the street saw someone get punched, they'd phone the police. But because it's happened in a hospital environment, until now that was seen as OK.' The force aims to encourage reporting without criminalising those lacking capacity, while ensuring victims receive recognition and support.
