A total of 56, 718 physical assaults on NHS staff were reported in 2009-10, an increase of 3.6 per cent on the previous year. The cost of these attacks has been put at more than £100 million a year. Less than 2% of all attacks result in a prosecution. A majority of violent incidents go unreported.
'Zero tolerance' is the NHS campaign against violence to NHS staff. Unions, employers and the Government support it.
All NHS trusts (the employers) are required to record all incidents directed against their staff, and to have clear strategies to protect their staff and reduce violent incidents.
The TUC handbook, Keeping well at work, includes examples of NHS policies to prevent violence and abuse against staff.
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