Over 51,000 incidents of violence have been reported against NHS staff in Scotland over the last five years, with new figures highlighting a disturbing trend of aggression towards healthcare workers.
The Scottish Liberal Democrats, who conducted the research, revealed that nurses were the primary victims, suffering over half of the reported assaults. Doctors and midwives also faced significant threats, with 344 and 63 incidents respectively.
The region of Tayside recorded the highest frequency of these incidents, with 10,689 cases since 2019, followed by Fife and Glasgow with 8,622 and 8,338 incidents respectively. Notably, Lothian and Highlands also reported high numbers last year alone, with 1,178 and 1,138 incidents.
Despite a general decrease in such incidents across Scotland—from 11,775 in 2019-2020 to 8,623 in 2023-2024—violence remains a severe issue. The Scottish Liberal Democrats are urging the Scottish Government to intensify efforts to safeguard hospital staff from violence and harassment.
Alex Cole-Hamilton, leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, emphasized the urgent need for a safe working environment for NHS staff, advocating for stronger collaboration between the Scottish Government, health boards, medical bodies, and trade unions to bolster safety measures and ensure strict penalties for offenders.
This call to action comes amid reports that frontline workers in Scotland endure nearly 60 attacks daily, with NHS staff facing about 31 assaults per day. Police officers also experience a high rate of violence, with an average of 18 attacks daily in 2022-23.
The Scottish Government responded, reiterating that violence against NHS staff is unacceptable and confirmed their support for criminal proceedings against perpetrators.
The Emergency Workers Act prescribes severe penalties for such assaults, including imprisonment and substantial fines, underlining the government’s commitment to protecting healthcare workers.
