ALMOST 200 NHS staff were physically assaulted by patients last year at the trust which runs Winchester hospital, figures show.

Statistics provided following a Freedom of Information request reveal that last year 197 staff working for Hampshire Hospitals Foundation Trust (HHFT) were physically assaulted by a patient.

This represented an increase on the previous year when 168 staff were physically assaulted in 2019. 

In 2018 the figure was 200.

Last year, public service union Unison launched a campaign to reduce violence in the NHS.

Nationally, figures show that violent assaults against NHS staff are rising, with around 75,000 people each year experiencing physical violence and aggression from patients, relatives, or the public.

The union is supporting a promise from the NHS People Plan, launched in July 2020, for leaders to prevent and control violence so that “staff should never be fearful or apprehensive about coming to work”.

Unison said physical assaults have left staff with physical and psychological injuries, leading to time off, isolation from the workplace, loss of confidence, people quitting their jobs, PTSD, and other significant long-term psychiatric conditions.

Julie Maskery, chief operating officer at HHFT, which runs Basingstoke, Winchester and Andover hospitals said a range of measures are in place to “help keep our staff safe” including training and security presence on its hospital sites to “assist our staff in difficult situations”.

She said: “Our staff are here to provide the best possible care to our patients and treat everyone with compassion and respect. Sadly, there are instances where our staff are not treated in the same way.”

She added: “We encourage all incidents to be reported, and support is offered to staff who have experienced violence or aggression at work.

“We are currently reviewing the management of violence and aggression in our hospitals to ensure we are doing all we can to reduce incidents and provide support to staff if an incident occurs.”