Hospital staff at Watford General Hospital have spoken out about being abused both physically and verbally as the trust launches a renewed campaign against unacceptable behaviour.
One in four staff at West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust reported bullying, harassment and abuse in the workplace over the past year.
Rima, a nurse in the hospital’s Emergency Department, said she had been punched repeatedly by a patient and regularly faced verbal abuse.
She said: “I was literally punched back and forth five or six times by a patient, and I regularly face verbal abuse.”
Healthcare Support Worker Great described facing racist abuse from a patient, while colleague Kirsty said frontline staff could feel intimidated and physically scared.
She said: “Because we’re the front line, it’s us they take it out on. You feel intimidated. Sometimes you can feel physically quite scared.”
Chief Nurse Kelly McGovern said staff deserved to work without being “shouted at, threatened or attacked”.
The Trust’s ‘No Excuse for Abuse’ campaign includes new posters across wards, alongside 24-hour security.
Feature image: West Herts Hospitals Charity
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