Addressing abuse toward female staff

Recent data paints a worrying picture of the risks faced by NHS employees on a daily basis.

According to the 2024 NHS Staff Survey, 14.38% of NHS workers reported experiencing physical violence from patients, their relatives, or members of the public in the previous 12 months. An increase from the 13.88% the year before, the figure highlights a concerning trend.

In addition to physical violence, verbal abuse and harassment remain widespread. The same survey found that more than 25% of NHS staff experienced harassment, bullying, or abuse from patients or the public in the last year.

For female NHS staff, the risks can be particularly severe, with research indicating workplace violence is most prevalent toward female healthcare staff. Women make up 76% of NHS England’s workforce alone, leaving them exposed to experience harassment, including sexual harassment or gender-based abuse from patients and members of the public.

These incidents can include, but are not limited to:

• Physical assaults such as punching, pushing, or spitting
• Verbal abuse and threats
• Sexual harassment or inappropriate behaviour
• Aggression linked to intoxication, long waiting times, or mental health crises

Such experiences not only threaten staff safety but also contribute to stress, burnout, and workforce shortages across the NHS - placing additional pressure on an already stretched healthcare system.

UNISON surveys of nursing and midwifery staff, of which an average of 94% are women, have shown that 33% needed time off work after experiencing physical violence, while more than one in five moved to a different role due to safety concerns.

Creating safer working environments is therefore essential to both protect staff and maintain the resilience of the healthcare workforce.

While training and policy reforms are essential, practical safety tools have an equally important role to play. Technical solutions such as Pinpoint’s staff safety alarm systems provide a critical layer of protection for frontline workers who may face unpredictable and unsafe situations.

In healthcare environments where staff often interact with distressed patients in high-risk situations, the ability to quickly summon assistance can make a significant difference to their overall wellbeing, personal safety and productivity.

The Pinpoint P2 System allows healthcare workers to instantly alert colleagues or security teams if they feel threatened. With a simple press of a button on one of our discreet, wearable P2 Badge PITs, staff can call for help without escalating the situation.

In moments of immediate danger, activating one of our personal panic alarms triggers an urgent response, alerting security personnel or nearby staff to the exact location of the incident and the level of support required (assistance or emergency).

The Pinpoint staff attack system ensures a rapid response during any situation, helping to:

• De-escalate high-risk behaviour
• Prevent injuries
• Protect both staff and patients
• Attend a healthcare emergency

For female NHS staff, the presence of the Pinpoint System can serve as a layer of reassurance, preventing unwanted behaviour, mitigating dangerous incidents and de-escalating high-risk situations.

Violence toward NHS workers is not simply a workplace issue, it is a systemic challenge affecting patient care, staff wellbeing, and healthcare delivery across the UK. Employers can help address this challenge by combining training, risk assessments, and effective safety technology.

By investing in robust safety measures and technologies like the solutions offered by Pinpoint Ltd, estate managers can create safer working environments, reduce risks of violence, and support the wellbeing of the professionals who keep our healthcare system running.

Interested in the Pinpoint P2 System for your healthcare facility? Take a look at how our award-winning system supports staff in healthcare settings here.