Fewer than five of 2667 assaults on NHS staff in Tayside have been reported to the police in the last three years, according to new figures.
Tory justice spokesman John Lamont has criticised NHS Tayside for not reporting more attacks, despite a policy report urging staff to do just that.
“Attacks on NHS staff are never acceptable and it is right NHS Tayside takes a zero tolerance approach to such incidents,” he said.
“However, to ensure the number of these attacks is reduced further, the health board must ensure more of these attacks are reported to the police so everyone knows such behaviour has serious consequences.”
Verbal, physical and sexual abuse are just some of the assaults staff have endured. Figures released after a Freedom of Information request show that 703 incidents were recorded in 2009, 829 in 2008 and 820 in 2007.
So far this year 315 assaults on staff have been recorded.
NHS Tayside said fewer than five of the 2667 assaults since 2007 were reported to police, although they could not give a specific number as this might identify the individuals concerned.
Photo used under Creative Commons licence courtesy of Flickr user boliston.
