NHS Staff Fear for Safety Amidst Rising Violence

An A&E sister at St Thomas' Hospital in London has voiced grave concerns about the safety of NHS staff, reporting that colleagues have endured severe violence, including broken jaws and chases with knives. This testimony comes in light of a recent Royal College of Emergency Medicine report revealing that 96% of A&E personnel face daily or weekly aggression, with 73% experiencing it weekly or even daily. Two-thirds of these incidents involved discrimination.

The Guys and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust has seen a 60% increase in physical assaults on its staff between 2024/25 and 2025/26. Jess Turnbull, a senior A&E sister, described how fire extinguishers and furniture are used as weapons, and newer tactics involve phones being used to video staff for intimidation. She emphasized a desire for greater support from the justice system, believing attacks on NHS workers are not taken seriously enough.

Turnbull noted that the front door of A&E is a high-incident area, where stressed patients, exacerbated by long waiting times, often direct abuse. She highlighted threats of violence and racist and sexualized comments as common occurrences. The fear of being targeted after work is a significant concern. To combat this, the Trust has implemented enhanced security and pinpoint alarms that security staff respond to multiple times daily.