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| Mental health nurses face attacks | Mental health nurses face attacks |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| More than half of nurses on mental health wards have been physically attacked, a survey suggests. | More than half of nurses on mental health wards have been physically attacked, a survey suggests. |
| Nurses working with older people are the most likely to be assaulted, the joint Healthcare Commission and Royal College of Psychiatrists report said. | Nurses working with older people are the most likely to be assaulted, the joint Healthcare Commission and Royal College of Psychiatrists report said. |
| The study of 69 NHS trusts and private hospitals in England and Wales said patients had also been attacked and more had to be done to stop violence. | The study of 69 NHS trusts and private hospitals in England and Wales said patients had also been attacked and more had to be done to stop violence. |
| Health bosses said the situation was taken "very seriously". | Health bosses said the situation was taken "very seriously". |
| The audit covered eight in 10 of the organisations providing in-patient care for the 30,000 mental health patients in England and Wales. | The audit covered eight in 10 of the organisations providing in-patient care for the 30,000 mental health patients in England and Wales. |
| The audit reveals worrying levels of violence against staff in mental health units Anna Walker, of the Healthcare Commission class="" href="/1/hi/health/7241306.stm">'I was close to suicide' | |
| Nurses, doctors, visitors and patients were all asked about whether they had suffered attacks, threats and what could be done about it. | Nurses, doctors, visitors and patients were all asked about whether they had suffered attacks, threats and what could be done about it. |
| Some 46% of nurses in mental health wards for working age patients said they had been assaulted. | Some 46% of nurses in mental health wards for working age patients said they had been assaulted. |
| For those working in older people's wards this rose to 64%. | For those working in older people's wards this rose to 64%. |
| Most of these attacks happened in those wards caring for people with "organic" conditions such as dementia rather than "functional" problems such as depression and schizophrenia. | Most of these attacks happened in those wards caring for people with "organic" conditions such as dementia rather than "functional" problems such as depression and schizophrenia. |
| Nurses reported they had suffered fractures, dislocations and black eyes. | Nurses reported they had suffered fractures, dislocations and black eyes. |
| Patients were also revealed to be under threat with a fifth of working age patients being attacked. For older patients, the figure dropped to 6%. | Patients were also revealed to be under threat with a fifth of working age patients being attacked. For older patients, the figure dropped to 6%. |
| A fifth of clinical staff working with older people said they were attacked, with the figure dropping to 13% of those working with working age people. | A fifth of clinical staff working with older people said they were attacked, with the figure dropping to 13% of those working with working age people. |
| Violence | Violence |
| The report said improvements were needed to reduce levels of violence, which many of those quizzed said was getting worse. | The report said improvements were needed to reduce levels of violence, which many of those quizzed said was getting worse. |
| In particular, it suggested staffing levels should be increased, training improved and patients be given more activities. | In particular, it suggested staffing levels should be increased, training improved and patients be given more activities. |
| However, it did acknowledge that in recent years attempts had been made by providing staff with alarms and improving the reporting of incidents. | However, it did acknowledge that in recent years attempts had been made by providing staff with alarms and improving the reporting of incidents. |
| Anna Walker, chief executive of the Healthcare Commission, said: "The audit reveals worrying levels of violence against staff in mental health units." | Anna Walker, chief executive of the Healthcare Commission, said: "The audit reveals worrying levels of violence against staff in mental health units." |
| And Dr Peter Carter, general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, added: "These levels of violence are deeply serious and unacceptable, whatever the area of care. | And Dr Peter Carter, general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, added: "These levels of violence are deeply serious and unacceptable, whatever the area of care. |
| "The RCN commends nurses for maintaining the same dignified commitment to patient care, even under such constant threat." | "The RCN commends nurses for maintaining the same dignified commitment to patient care, even under such constant threat." |
| Steve Shrubb, the director of the NHS Confederation's Mental Health Network, which represents managers, said the violence was "unacceptable". | Steve Shrubb, the director of the NHS Confederation's Mental Health Network, which represents managers, said the violence was "unacceptable". |
| "Mental health service providers take this very seriously and the way these incidents are dealt with has improved." | "Mental health service providers take this very seriously and the way these incidents are dealt with has improved." |