McGimpsey Emphasises Zero-Tolerance Approach To Attacks On Nursing Staff

The Minister also outlined the measures introduced by his Department in an effort to reduce the number of such attacks, and his intention to introduce two new pieces of legislation.

Speaking after taking questions in the Assembly, he said: "Any form of attack on healthcare staff is inexcusable and totally unacceptable. Our healthcare staff should not subjected to verbal and physical abuse when they are trying to help others.

"Last June I launched a campaign to spell out clearly the message of Zero Tolerance. Since then each Health and Social Care Trust has put accountability arrangements in place for staff safety and a number of additional measures have been introduced. A publicity campaign has also been rolled out and over 12,000 personal alarms distributed.

"I will also be introducing a training strategy for Trusts where staff can benefit from different levels of training from conflict management awareness training for all staff to restraining techniques for those staff who may require it."

Turning to dealing with the perpetrators, the Minister outlined his intention to introduce two pieces of legislation that will help to further reduce the number of attacks on healthcare staff.

He said: "The first is contained in provisions of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill. These provisions will deal with low level nuisance or disturbance behaviour on hospital premises that cause annoyance to staff and patients alike. They provide for the creation of a new offence of refusing to leave hospital premises having caused nuisance or disturbance, and will empower certain Health and Social Care staff to remove offenders from the premises."