‘Systemic failures’ behind doubling of attacks on A&E nurses

[IwantToRetire]

Nurses told the RCN that they feared for their welfare at work, with some reporting having developed mental health disorders as a result of violence on the job.

Sarah Tappy, a senior sister at an East London A&E, told the RCN that at one point she was punched so hard in the face by a patient that the blow knocked her out.

In part, the RCN blamed the rise in violence on deteriorating conditions in A&E, in particular a rise in long waits.

Rachelle McCarthy, a senior charge nurse from the East Midlands, reported having been punched by a large drunk man in the face whilst on shift.

“Even patients you would expect to be placid are becoming irate because of just how long they have to wait,” she said. “You can only imagine the behaviour of those who are already prone to violence.”
The RCN described the rise in violence as “abhorrent” and urged the government to take action, or risk jeopardising its ongoing plans to reform the health service.

https://www.nursingtimes.net/nurse-wellbeing/systemic-failures-behind-doubling-of-attacks-on-ae-nurses-12-08-2025/

Honestly, it is shit. People think they can do and say what they like. Verbal abuse, physical abuse, punching, kicking, scratching, threats to kill, threats to follow us home and harm our families, patients pulling knives.... it goes on

And it wasn't this bad when I qualified 20 years ago

And note it's 'systemic failures', and long waiting times, not more and more people believing that anger and violence are the go-to reactions to problems.

'The people are angry' is used as an explanation, a justification even for acts of despicable violence, as if the only way to deal with 'being angry' was to attack someone.

Judging by previous figures about nurses and sexual assaults/harassments, it’s as if nurses are regarded as service humans and punching bags.

Wowzel, I’m so sorry that the RCN and Unison are not more effective in insisting upon better working conditions.

I am so sorry to hear this.

Is it equally men and women.

Is it more likely to happen at night, where alcohol is playing a part.

Not that saying any of these factors excuse violence, but just trying to understand if it is basically happening throughout a shift at any time of day or night.

Night time is definitely a trigger, multiple incident reports about aggressive behaviour from patients last night!

It's a mix of long waits, mental health, drugs, alcohol and a general breakdown in what is considered acceptable behaviour

It is widespread use of drugs. Inability to control emotions, incredibly poor service and a culture of always trying to be nice to people who are awful in the public sector. Nothing gets done about it.

Thanks. I suppose i was thinking is it just drunks. In my dim distant youth that was certainly the issue if you needed to go to A&E late at night.

My more recent visits have been in day time, and yes people were getting irritated, but usually because the machines you were supposed to be able to get water etc., never worked.

Round here we have what is called a super a&e. All the other smaller a&e depts in the surrounding areas were closed and we've been left with 1 huge and v busy one that I can only describe as hell on earth. They have a team of security on the doors to organise the queues and limit the numbers of family members. The wait times are so long, trolleys up and down every inch of space. You have children waiting in the same main waiting area as adults and it never used to be like this. Before children had a separate waiting area but this is too small and is only for the most urgent in need. There are drug addicts, alcohol related, mental health, gang injured. The police are constantly outside and get called in frequently. A visit there is traumatising. The staff look worn down and I'm sorry to say the system is dehumanising for both patients and staff. No staff deserve to be verbally or physically abused. People have died unnecessarily due to this broken system.

It's absolutely appalling but I can fully believe it unfortunately. Last time I was in A&E I found it a genuinely scary place - overcrowded, incredibly long waits, and people who were clearly unstable. I can't imagine working in that environment every day.