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NHS Staff Face Rising Violence & Abuse
13 Mar
Summary
- One in seven NHS staff faced violence from patients or the public.
- Over a quarter experienced harassment, bullying, and abuse in 2025.
- Racism and discrimination against ethnic minority staff are rising.
The 2025 NHS staff survey indicates a significant increase in violence, harassment, and abuse directed at healthcare workers. One in seven staff reported experiencing violence from patients or the public, while over a quarter faced harassment, bullying, and abuse, marking the highest figures in three years.
Sexual harassment has also reached record highs, with nearly 10% of NHS workers reporting unwanted sexual behaviour. Furthermore, one in five Black and minority ethnic staff experienced abuse from patients or the public, compared to one in twenty white staff. Similar behaviour from colleagues also affected ethnic minority staff at double the rate of white colleagues.
Despite these alarming trends, underreporting remains a concern, particularly for harassment and abuse. The Royal College of Nursing and The King's Fund have highlighted this as a national emergency, emphasizing that staff have a right to work without fear and abuse, regardless of patient frustrations.
