This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Zero tolerance for attacks on NHS staff
23/12/2002
Violence and aggressive behaviour towards frontline NHS
staff will not be tolerated, First Minister Jack McConnell
said today.
On a visit to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary's accident and
emergency department, Mr McConnell met some of the staff
who will be providing emergency services throughout the
festive period and praised their dedication.
During his visit, the First Minister also met some of
those involved in a new project to protect staff from
violence and aggression.
Mr McConnell said:
"While most families are celebrating Christmas and New
Year together we must remember that not everyone is on
holiday. For the staff here in A&E, the festive period
is one of the busiest of the year.
"We take it for granted that if something goes wrong
that these dedicated professionals will be on hand to help
- every day of the year.
"Yet too often these caring NHS staff - and other
emergency service workers - find themselves being subjected
to abuse and violence from the very people they are trying
to help.
"This is simply unacceptable and I would appeal to
everyone who uses these services to treat the staff with
the respect and gratitude they deserve.
"On behalf of everyone in Scotland who might need their
help I want to thank all the doctors, nurses and ambulance
staff - and their colleagues in the fire and police
services - for their efforts this Christmas and New
Year."
Lothian University Hospitals NHS Trust has been
allocated £40,000 to develop a strategy for violence and
aggression management, through the funding of two training
and development advisers.
As part of this a training project is about to start,
coinciding with the launch of the Trust's Zero Tolerance
Strategy, which will include a commitment from the Trust to
support staff and take action against those who use or
threaten violence.