Discrimination and violence among Salisbury hospital workers exposed by staff survey

The results of the NHS Staff Survey 2014 showed Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust was among the best in the country in many categories, and the second overall in the south-west.

But it also showed workers are experiencing physical violence, harassment, bullying or abuse from patients or the public more often than in most other hospitals.

And the number of employees abusing their own colleagues was also above average.

One in six staff members reported violence from patients, while one in 50 reported physical violence from colleagues.

The hospital employs almost 4,000 people, meaning statistically around 80 employees have been attacked by a fellow member of staff.

The report said: “The trust takes these issues very seriously and will continue to offer support to any member of staff affected.”

The number of staff experiencing discrimination at work also rose by more than 50 per cent (from seven per cent in 2013/14 to 11 per cent in 2014/15).

Almost one in five black or ethnic minority members of staff reported having experienced workplace discrimination in 2014/15.

Investigations are planned to find out what kind of discrimination staff are reporting and from where it is coming, and hospital bosses say they will take action against those found responsible.

Human resources director Alison Kingscott said extra training and a new 24/7 security service, due to launch this year, would help protect frontline staff.

She said: “We have a zero tolerance approach to any form of violence towards staff and this is reinforced at all levels.” This year’s results did show staff witnessed fewer harmful errors and near misses than last year and more were reporting errors they saw.

Salisbury scored in the top 20 per cent of acute trusts.

The percentage of staff who would feel secure reporting unsafe practice was also in the top 20 per cent nationwide.

The report said: “Overall the staff survey results are very positive.”