Darent Valley Hospital faces aggressive and violent behaviour from patients (From This Is Local London)

Darent Valley Hospital faces aggressive and violent behaviour from patients

5:15pm Monday 14th November 2011 in News By Abigail Woodcock

There are 71 reports of violence and aggression at Darent Valley Hospital each year

Aggressive and violent behaviour from patients is a major problem faced by staff at Darent Valley Hospital. Abigail Woodcock finds out more.

ACCORDING to the NHS, there has been a significant increase in the levels of abuse and violence towards staff in hospitals.

This ranges from physical and verbal assault to offensive sexual or racial gestures and harassment.

Darent Valley sees more than 200,000 visitors a year, with numbers expected to increase in the run up to Christmas.

Of these, there are 71 reports of violence and aggression, but staff believe many incidents go unreported.

To tackle the problem, the hospital uses a yellow and red card system to warn patients about their behaviour.

A yellow card tells the patient their behaviour is unacceptable while a red card is issued as a last resort when the behaviour has got out of hand and the patient can no longer be treated in the hospital.

Staff are keen for patients to be more understanding at pressures they face.

Chief executive at the hospital, Susan Acott saidL “Although the number of instances of serious violence or aggression towards staff are few, the level of low level unsocial behaviour is on the rise. “Everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect, patients, visitors and hospital staff alike.

“We will do our utmost to address any concerns that patients or visitors may have but we need to be informed of any issues in an appropriate manner.

“Violent or verbally abusive behaviour from patients, visitors or any other member of the public is not acceptable. “It is taken very seriously and could result in prosecution. We will support any employee who wishes to take legal action against an offender.”

Anita Stockley works on Accident and Emergency’s reception and says people often get aggressive.

She said: “Patients who are drunk, under the influence of drugs or have mental health issues are often violent and aggressive towards us.

“It’s often because we are the first point of contact.

“Doctors and nurses have been sworn at, intimidated and attacked or threatened physically and verbally, along with reception staff who have also had crutches and shoes thrown at them.

“We understand patients and relatives feel stressed and anxious and we endeavour to treat everyone with respect, but we have the right to work without fear of attack or abuse.”

Modern matron Sue Synnons says hostility is common in the A and E ward.

She said: “It’s the number one hotspot for aggression.

“Friday and Saturday nights are notoriously bad for this sort of thing when many people have been out drinking.

“People shout loudly and get very demanding and swear at the nurses.

“But a lot of the problems come down to communication- people want to know what they are doing and what is happening next.

“When there is a breakdown in communication, they can get more and more aggressive, and think they are being ignored.”

Kim Pennington is a matron in the Gynaecology ward.

She said: “We come across ladies and their partners being verbally aggressive.

“Anxiety is running high and people start to be confrontational.

“I’ve come across situations on the ward where patients are swearing because they feel they are not getting the right care.

“People who have taken time off work to take their partner to hospital get aggressive when they have to wait.

“We try to give patients the very best care but people fail to understand we have to prioritise them according to their clinical need.”