A&E staff face daily violence and racial abuse, RCEM survey finds

A survey of 2,126 emergency department workers by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) has revealed that 96 per cent of staff have experienced violence or aggression from patients or the public. Approximately 73 per cent of respondents reported that these incidents occur on a weekly or daily basis, with two-thirds noting that the abuse included discrimination.

Staff reported various forms of physical and verbal attacks, including being kicked and subjected to racially charged abuse. The RCEM warned that this crisis has become ‘normalised,’ driven largely by staff shortages and long wait times for care. The findings suggest that the environment is impacting recruitment and retention, as many healthcare workers are considering leaving the profession due to safety concerns.

Only 4 per cent of surveyed staff reported always feeling safe while working in emergency departments. Furthermore, just 41 per cent of those who reported incidents felt that their NHS trust took meaningful action. In response, the RCEM has launched the ‘Safe to Care’ campaign to advocate for better protection and support for frontline workers.