1. If your trust runs one or more A&E departments, could you please provide the total number of physical assaults on staff for each of the following time periods: 2018-2019 (or up until the most recent month), 2017-2018, 2016-2017, 2015-2016 and 2014-2015. Please release any readily available data-sets for these time periods.
2. If your trust runs one or more A&E departments, could you please provide the total number of non-physical assaults on staff for each of the following time periods: 2018-2019 (or up until the most recent month), 2017-2018, 2016-2017, 2015-2016 and 2014-2015. Please release any readily available data-sets.
3. If available, please provide a breakdown of the data for your whole trust, for the total number of physical assaults on staff by their profession (see below) for the following time periods: 2018-2019 (or until the most recent month available), 2017-2018, 2016-2017, 2015-2016 and 2014-2015. Please release any readily available data-sets.
4. If recorded, please provide a breakdown of the data for your whole trust, of the total number of physical assaults on staff by aggravating factors (see below) for the following time periods: 2018-2019 (or until the most recent month available), 2017-2018, 2016-2017, 2015-2016 and 2014-2015. Please release any readily available data-sets.
5. Could you please provide the amount of money spent on private security guards for each of the following years: 2018-2019 (or until the most recent month available), 2017-2018, 2016-2017, 2015-2016 and 2014-2015. Please release any readily available data-sets.
Could you also provide the amount of money total money spent on security measures (including but not exclusive to body cameras, CCTV, re-designing clinical environments, security staff, campaigns) for each of the following years: 2017-2018, (or until the most recent month available), 2017-2018, 2016-2017, 2015-2016 and 2014-2015.
Definitions and criteria for questions 1-4
Physical assault is the intentional application of force against the person without lawful justification resulting in physical injury or personal discomfort. For the purposes of this FOI spitting is included in this definition.
Non-physical assault is the use of inappropriate words or behaviour causing distress and/or constituting harassment. Non-physical assault includes the following (but is not exclusive to) offensive or obscene language; verbal abuse and swearing; brandishing weapons, or objects which could be used as weapons; attempted assaults; offensive gestures; threats; intimidation; harassment or stalking; damage to buildings equipment or vehicles which causes fear for personal safety; offensive language or behaviour related to a person’s, race, gender, nationality, religion, disability, age or sexual orientation; inappropriate sexual language or behaviour.
Professions include (but are not exclusive to) the following: nurses (including student nurses), doctors (including student doctors), security staff, healthcare assistants, paramedics, midwives, health visitors and porters.
Aggravating factors can include (but is not is not exclusive to) the following: racial, sexual, sexual harassment, homophobia, ableism, ageism, hate crime, and mental illness or condition.