New figures show a substantial reduction in assaults on health service workers across Tayside and Fife.
The data, obtained by Scottish Labour under the Freedom of Information Act, show the number of attacks on staff has dipped significantly on both sides of the Tay.
Health bosses have welcomed the drop but have pledged not to be complacent and say they will continue to urge staff to report incidents.
NHS Tayside, which includes the Perth and Kinross, Dundee and Angus council areas, saw the number of recorded assaults drop to 703 in 2009 from 829 in 2008 a decrease of around 15%.
In Fife, the numbers dropped even further from 894 to 634, a massive 30%.
An NHS Fife spokeswoman said the board was “delighted” with the reduction.
She said, “We are delighted with the figures and we credit this encouraging reduction to our ongoing work with Fife Constabulary and our general efforts to raise awareness.
“We are not complacent, however, and will continue to reduce these numbers even further.”
An NHS Tayside spokeswoman said, “We welcome the reduction in the number of assaults on NHS Tayside staff. We will continue to vigorously enforce our very strict policy of zero tolerance to any kind of violence, both physical and verbal, against any member of our staff, patients or visitors.
“Staff are actively encouraged to report all episodes, no matter how minor, and we have a good working partnership with local police to manage incidents when they may occur.”
She added, “We take each and every incident extremely seriously as it is a fundamental right of our staff that they can carry out their duties without having to face any kind of violence or the threat of violence.””Shocked” at rises elsewhereThe statistics were released by Labour North-East MSP Richard Baker, who said he was “shocked and disappointed” to see that the number of assaults had risen in other regions of Scotland seven of the nation’s 14 health boards had seen a rise in assaults on staff.
In Lothian, the number of assaults recorded had more than doubled over a two-year period.
Mr Baker also called on the SNP Government to meet its manifesto commitment to extend the so-called Emergency Workers legislation, which gives special protection to doctors, nurses, midwives and paramedics, to all NHS staff.
He said, “I am shocked and disappointed at the rising toll of violence against NHS workers in many parts of Scotland,.
“Those who work in the NHS should have an absolute right to feel safe from assault.
“The SNP made a manifesto commitment to extend the Emergency Workers legislation to cover all NHS staff.
“They have now been in power for three years but have done nothing.”
He added, “We need to come together as a parliament and send a clear message that violence and aggression against NHS staff is totally unacceptable.”
However, the SNP MSP Dr Ian McKee said, “This is yet another ‘Baker blunder’ he is a serial embarrassment to the Labour Party and completely clueless about this important issue.
“The reality is that in 2008 the SNP Government delivered on our manifesto commitment to extend the Emergency Workers Act to give legal protection to the health service staff excluded by Labour and the Lib Dems when they were in office.
“Richard Baker’s party did nothing the SNP delivered.”
He added, “As we approach the Scottish Parliament election, SNP MSPs will be proud to stand on this record of delivery.
“To date, the SNP Government has delivered 65 of our 94 headline manifesto commitments including extending the Emergency Workers Act.”
Photo used under Creative Commons licence courtesy of Flickr user Laura Mary.