An estimated 75,000 NHS workers were victims of violent assaults by patients last year, according to a investigation by the BBC’s Panorama show to be aired tonight.
Reporter Shelley Jofre has examined NHS care in two busy hospitals in Birmingham and Edinburgh.
The programme’s disturbing findings are bolstered by CCTV footage of incidents including a doctor being attacked by a 55 year-old woman, an assault on a security guard by a patient who had previously punched a doctor, a patient who bites another patient before attempting to assault other patients and staff and a four-hour long incident that involves staff, security, police and then riot squad officers as they contain a mentally ill patient.
With the government and NHS management committed to a Zero Tolerance policy, Panorama assesses whether the balance is right - between the duty to care and the duty to provide a safe working environment.
The programme also asks those who have been convicted of similar how they can justify their actions.
GBH on the NHS will be aired on BBC One on Monday 26 February at 2030. For more information see the Panorama website.
