Violence in healthcare settings is an all-too-common reality for NHS staff. Figures published in the 2024 NHS Staff Survey reveal that attacks on healthcare workers have risen by almost 14% in recent years, with around 200,000 professionals suffering physical violence annually.
While the UK government has pledged to combat the issue of violence in the NHS through the Agenda for Change contract and the Violence Prevention and Reduction Standard, some professionals feel that more extensive protections may be needed to address escalating threats.
For administrative staff and security management directors, a combination of comprehensive policy adjustments and the leveraging of modern security technologies should form the basis of effective safety improvements to help safeguard professionals against workplace violence.
Organisational policies and practical measures
While NHS staff should never feel that violence is expected or that preventing incidents is their sole responsibility, maintaining a culture of violence prevention can be a powerful tool.
By ensuring the entire workforce knows how to identify, de-escalate and report threatening behaviour safely and effectively, leaders and frontline staff can help reduce severe incidents.
Zero-tolerance policies
There should be zero tolerance for all acts of violence across NHS facilities, ranging from verbal abuse and bullying to physical altercations. Staff must feel empowered to respond to all types of threats safely and routinely, thereby facilitating a site-wide culture of violence prevention.
Reporting procedures
Staff should be provided a way to alert leaders and security teams to acts of violence with prompt efficiency, whether through wearable panic buttons, stationary alarms or handheld communication devices, as well as provide a way to report the specifics of violent events.
De-escalation training
Training staff to de-escalate confrontational behaviour and remain calm in the face of aggression can help to mitigate the impacts of workplace violence. Staff should be taught to use non-threatening body language and active listening techniques to calm tense situations.
Proactive security technology
In addition to policies and practical measures, NHS leaders can leverage modern security to both improve responses and proactively prevent the escalation of violent events.
Contemporary integrated and AI-powered healthcare security empowers operators to identify and address subtle actions that may lead to violent events before severe impacts are felt, helping security personnel engage swift, informed responses to emerging safety threats.
AI security cameras
AI security cameras use smart video analytics to automatically detect and engage responses to security threats. They can identify stimuli like crowds forming in unusual areas, people carrying potential weapons and aggressive behaviour, then notify security teams in real-time.
When deployed as part of an integrated security platform, data from AI cameras can be used to engage automated responses to identified threats. For example, if the cameras identify a person brandishing a weapon, doors can lock, alarms can sound and police can be notified.
Smart sensors
Smart sensors installed in high-risk areas can automatically identify suspicious sounds and motion associated with acts of violence. If a sensor is triggered, security teams can be instantly notified and asked to view wider security devices to plan a response.
Sensors can also be deployed as stationary panic buttons to provide staff a discreet way to request help during tense situations. Sensors can be programmed to respond to keywords spoken by staff members to engage silent alarms and wider automated security responses.
Cloud management platforms
To provide security teams with consistent, real-time insights into emerging threats, NHS leaders should consider developing integrated security systems. By prioritising ONVIF-conformant devices, teams can link technologies and manage operations from a single unified platform.
Cloud management platforms enable security teams to view real-time insights, receive live alerts and adjust security devices remotely from any secure smart device. In practice, this allows operators to engage relevant responses and offer support to staff swiftly at all times.
A safer future for healthcare professionals
With some studies suggesting violence against healthcare workers has risen by as much as 94% in recent years, it’s clear that more must be done to improve security measures across healthcare facilities, encompassing both practical and technology-based enhancements.
To help ensure a safer future for healthcare professionals, a more proactive approach to risk management and threat detection is required. Through well-defined organisational policies and smart security tools, leaders can take steps to reduce workplace violence in healthcare.
Jawad Hai
Senior Product Manager
Jawad Hai is a Senior Product Manager at Motorola Solutions, where he leverages over 18 years of comprehensive experience in the surveillance industry.
