Violence against A&E staff doubles as NHS faces mounting pressures

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has revealed a disturbing rise in physical violence against NHS staff working in accident and emergency (A&E) departments, with the number of reported assaults almost doubling in the past five years.

According to data collected through Freedom of Information requests to NHS hospital trusts across England, the RCN found that 4,054 incidents of physical violence were recorded in A&E departments in 2024 - a sharp increase from 2,093 incidents in 2019. The figures were based on responses from 89 of 129 NHS hospital trusts with emergency departments that the RCN approached.

The nursing union links the surge in violence to increasingly long waits, overcrowded departments, and ongoing staffing shortages. These issues have created heightened levels of frustration and tension among patients, some of whom would not typically be prone to aggressive behaviour. The RCN has warned that unless urgent action is taken to address the root causes - including long delays, corridor care, and what it described as “chronic” staffing problems - the levels of violence are likely to escalate further.

Among the serious incidents reported to the RCN were cases of staff being punched, kicked, and spat at. There have also been reports of threats involving weapons, including a case where a gun was pointed at an A&E worker. Other threats have included acid attacks and other forms of intimidation, leaving many healthcare professionals feeling vulnerable and unsafe in their workplaces. These incidents happened across the country at different A&E departments.

In response to the rising threat, the Liberal Democrats have proposed that A&E staff be equipped with panic buttons that would provide a direct line to the police, aiming to improve staff safety and response times in crisis situations.

Tameside and Glossop NHS Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust was not among the 129 trusts approached for this data, so specific figures for assaults in Tameside’s A&E department have not been made available. Nonetheless, the national trend raises concerns for staff safety across all emergency departments, including those serving the Tameside area.

Jacqui Burrow, Chief Nurse at Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We are very concerned by the Royal College of Nursing's report on violence against nursing staff across England. Although Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust was not one of the 129 trusts approached by the Royal College of Nursing, these national figures are very serious.

"Our nurses work incredibly hard to provide the best possible care for members of our community. Like all our staff, they deserve to work in a safe environment, without fear of violence.

"While we understand that visiting the emergency department can be an incredibly difficult time for patients and their families, there is absolutely no excuse for violence, aggression or abuse of any kind.

"Any staff who have experienced violence at work are encouraged to report all incidents so they can be dealt with appropriately. Help and support is available for those who need it."

The RCN continues to call for urgent national measures to protect frontline NHS workers, warning that continued inaction could leave both staff and patients at further risk.