Dozens of MPs have backed calls for stronger action against the growing levels of violence, aggression and abuse faced by NHS staff working on the frontline.
A cross-party group of 37 MPs has signed a House of Commons Early Day Motion (EDM) recognising the contribution of emergency medicine professionals and urging a tougher response to attacks on healthcare workers.
The motion, led by Bath MP Wera Hobhouse and tabled on June 2, highlights the pressures faced by staff working in A&E departments across the UK. It recognises the role played by emergency healthcare workers and the impact of unsafe working conditions on staff wellbeing, workforce retention and patient care.
The motion also points to rising levels of violence, aggression and abuse directed at healthcare workers, calling for the enforcement of a zero-tolerance approach to violence and abuse against healthcare staff.
The move comes amid growing concern over attacks on health and care workers, both in Greater Manchester and across the country.
Earlier this year, figures revealed more than 1,000 emergency workers had been assaulted while trying to save lives in Greater Manchester since legal protections were strengthened in 2018. There have been 1,146 assaults on 999 workers recorded by Greater Manchester Police since 2020, including 336 in Manchester alone.
Health leaders have also warned of rising levels of racism and discrimination directed at NHS staff. A recent campaign, No Space for Racism, was launched by the Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership (GM ICP) after one in four health and care staff reported experiencing racism at work in the previous year.
Claudette Elliot, Chair of Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, told the Manchester Evening News: "An incident may happen and it doesn't just go away. People take that away with them and it impacts their confidence and their ability to be the best they can be in their roles. That could be a nurse on a ward, it could be a GP in practice, it could be a pharmacist or a paramedic. We're very conscious that this is happening across the board - in our care homes and our care staff who are going into people's homes."
Ms Elliot recalled experiences from staff within the trust who have faced racist abuse both in and out of health settings. On one ward, a patient suddenly started shouting racist insults towards a nurse who was doing a routine medication round, which escalated into threats as the team attempted to calm things down.
Another community nurse also faced persistent abuse on public transport whilst travelling to a home visit, wearing their uniform. Targeted because of her accent and appearance, a member of the public said about the nurse: "We don't know who they are and yet they're here in our country. I don't care if you're wearing a uniform. It doesn't matter who you are. You're not like us."
Violence and abuse are not confined to hospitals. Pharmacy leaders in Greater Manchester have also reported incidents involving pharmacy workers being threatened, assaulted and intimidated while delivering services in local communities.
Speaking at a meeting of the Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board earlier this year, the Director of Strategy and Pharmacy Transformation at Community Pharmacy Greater Manchester, Luvjit Kandula, described horrific attacks of physical violence.
Ms Kandula said: "We have got examples of people being strangulated, being threatened with pens, knives, pushing, punching, they've had threats that their premises will be burned down. I've had two ladies in Greater Manchester who were being filmed after 6pm because they were on their own… Cars are being slashed and there was one incident where a pharmacy actually had someone walk in, was mentally unstable and wasn't getting the support they needed. And because of medicine shortages and a delay in getting their prescription to them, that then led to threatening behaviour and him going into the dispensary and smashing the shelves."
She added: "There are wider issues than just racism – the medicine shortages, the delays, not being seen for many hours. It means that where we've got walk-in services, those people are taking the brunt."
'Utterly vile abuse, intimidation and physical violence'
Reacting to the Early Day Motion, the Royal College of Emergency Medicine has encouraged all MPs, regardless of political affiliation, to add their signatures and show their support for emergency health workers in the UK.
Dr Ian Higginson, president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said: "Every day in this country, staff in Emergency Departments are on the receiving end of utterly vile abuse, intimidation and – all too often – physical violence. These are people who dedicate their working lives to helping others. They have arrived at work to save lives, yet their own wellbeing is put at risk.
"It is unacceptable and I give my heartfelt thanks to all MPs who have, to date, signed this Early Day Motion recognising this as the important issue it is. We need to reset our tolerance towards violence and aggression towards healthcare staff – and we need to back that up with enforcement action where appropriate.
"Too many of our members feel that employers and the authorities do not take the problem seriously. It feels as though the attitude from some is that this is just part of the job. This is a view I hear too frequently, and which I utterly reject. I call on all politicians to sign this motion, and to put their full weight behind measures to tackle violence and aggression towards healthcare staff."
Earlier this month, Dr Higginson also warned that abuse directed at NHS staff had become commonplace, describing a workforce facing attacks, threats and discrimination while caring for patients. Senior NHS leaders have also linked the issue to wider concerns about staff morale.
Sir Ciarán Devane, chief executive of NHS Alliance, which represents NHS trusts, warned there was a "profound crisis" affecting NHS workers and said stronger protections were needed.
"There is a very bleak picture emerging that is one of a profound crisis in the morale of NHS staff," said Sir Ciarán. "Protecting staff from all forms of abuse, discrimination and as far as possible the pressures created by the wider political climate is not optional - it is essential."
Pointing to a rise in verbal aggression, discriminatory behaviour, physical violence and sexual misconduct directed at NHS staff, Sir Ciarán added: "If we fail to safeguard the workforce, we fail patients."
The concerns mirror warnings from other frontline workers. Research published by trade union Unison found half of almost 1,800 social workers surveyed said they had received verbal abuse when on a solo home visit in the past year, compared to two-fifths who say they encountered it when on a home visit with a colleague.
Threats of death and physical violence were among the examples staff highlighted in their responses, said the union. More than one in four who received abuse did not report it, partly because they feel it is part of the job or they believe their employer would ignore them.
As of June 16, the EDM had attracted support from MPs from the Liberal Democrats, Labour, Plaid Cymru, the Democratic Unionist Party, the Social Democratic and Labour Party, Traditional Unionist Voice and an independent MP.
