A hard hitting campaign, which stands against those who direct any form of abuse to health and social care professionals has made headline news.
On Friday 4 March, BBC Reporting Scotland interviewed front line staff who have found themselves being victims of aggression at work.
Speaking to BBC Reporting Scotland, Linzi Munro, care home liaison nurse, said: “It’s really difficult to take on when you are getting shouted at, raised voices and sworn at. And you feel that you have absolutely given 110 per cent and done everything you possibly can for your patient.”
All participants, who were involved with the campaign, were subjected to some form of hostility in recent months.
The BBC News segment illustrated that there is a huge backlog of appointments as a result of the pandemic, which staff recognise can cause anger and frustration for those who have had cancelled appointments.
Amy Pearson, administrator, added: “They will say ‘I’m sorry to take it out on you, however’ and they go on to explain that it’s not good enough. This is maybe the second time they have been cancelled, which adds fuel to the fire. It is a difficult time for them as well.”
Laura Hamilton, business support manager, said: “They said I was useless and wasn’t worth my salary. At a different time, I would have probably brushed it off, but I was feeling emotionally vulnerable having just lost my Gran. So, it really hurt me. It’s not just the swearing, I think we are almost used to that. It’s the emotional side of it now, we are being made to feel guilty that we cannot provide dates for patients. That’s a horrible burden for the staff to bear when it’s not their fault.”
Eddie Docherty, director of nursing, said: “We are actually now having to take staff out of busy jobs to train them in dealing with that level of aggression at a time when I need them most at the front line. But we will continue to prioritise those patients who feel most at risk, wherever they are.”
Thank you to the staff involved for their courage in taking part in the BBC filming and in the campaign video.
Training and support
Details of support and training available can be found here:
- https://www.nhslanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk/pulse-challenging-telephone-conversations/
- https://www.nhslanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk/pulse-support-violence-and-aggression/
Full details of all health and wellbeing support available to health and social care staff is available at the following link: https://www.nhslanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk/your-health-matters/
Access to training and support for Local Authority employees is also available:
- North Lanarkshire Council employees should visit MyNL mynl.co.uk
- South Lanarkshire Council employees should visit: https://www.southlanarkshire.gov.uk/info/200254/employee_information
