Police probe into NHS Sex Attacks

CCTV footage has been given to the police, and security tightened around Glasgow’s Royal Infirmary following a string of sexual attacks.

Two female NHS workers were victim of sexual attacks in two separate criminal incidents in late December in one of Scotland’s largest hospitals. Despite security being tightened around the hospital and police encouraging vigilance amongst staff, the police were unable to confirm if the same man was behind each attack.

Zero Tolerance

A statement released on behalf of the local NHS in the Glasgow area announced that the police were launching an official inquiry into the attacks. The statement said: "Security patrols have been increased at Glasgow Royal Infirmary after two separate reports over the past month of assaults against two female members staff.

"The hospital site is covered by extensive CCTV and all relevant footage from both incidents has been supplied to Police Scotland who are investigating.

"Our security staff already carry out patrols regularly over a 24/7 period but these have been increased. We have also advised all staff to remain vigilant.

"The NHS health board added that it had a  "strict zero tolerance policy towards violence" and that staff should be "entitled to work free of threats, assaults and intimidation".

The board added:"All our staff deserve basic courtesy and respect and to be able to work without fear of abuse or violence."

The board added that it took any sort of abuse towards staff as a serious breach which would not be tolerated.

NHS Staff Injured

The report of the sexual attacks in Glasgow comes following statistics from the Liberal Democrats showing sexual and verbal abuse towards NHS staff. The figures show that just under 10,000 NHS workers were injured in the Glasgow area in the last three years.

The Glasgow area represented just under a third of all injuries with 35,000 NHS staff injured across Scotland.The extent of injuries included numerous accounts of physical violence, assault, staff being knocked unconscious and other injuries such as slips, trips and falls.

Serious Crime on Rise

Irenee O'Neill, general secretary of the Independent Federation of Nursing in Scotland, said: “Serious crime is on the increase in hospitals. I have had nurses who have been stabbed, have had broken bones or have had a knife brandished in their face. It is dreadful that medical staff trying to give lifesaving care should be at risk.”

Margaret Watt of the Scotland Patients Association added: “The problem is we don't have any security on our doors, like there is with airport security. Anyone is free to walk in with a knife.

“The security of patients and staff is paramount and these crimes are multiplying. This should give us a wake-up call.Doctors and nurses don't go to work to be beaten up. They go to help people and anyone who attacks them should be banned. There must be a system in place to identify those people.”

Rising Trend Across UK

Police figures across England and Wales have shown that sexual attacks on NHS staff are rising, with a 50% increase since 2011 according to official statistics, with more than 1,600 sexual attacks across English hospitals, with 157 rape allegations. 

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