This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Violence against NHS staff
20/12/2004
Violence and aggression against NHS staff is unacceptable and must stop, Health Minister Andy Kerr said as he launched a new Safer Scotland poster to help underline the message set out by the zero tolerance poster campaign from last Christmas which will also be used for this festive season.
The Minister also announced an extra £400,000 for NHS Boards to help tackle the problem locally.
Mr Kerr said:
"This time last year we launched our zero tolerance poster campaign to reduce incidences of violence and aggression towards NHS staff.
"I'm pleased to see last year's posters up on the walls of A&E departments and doctors' surgeries highlighting that this is an ongoing problem that needs to be addressed in the health service.
"There is clearly much more still to do, which is why NHS Boards are to receive a further £400,000 for projects specifically aimed at tackling this problem, locally.
"Together with the new 'Safer Scotland' poster, specifically geared for nurses, which is today added to material already available, I hope that this investment will have a positive impact.
"Quite simply, violence towards NHS staff is not acceptable. NHS Boards now have the power to withhold treatment in extreme cases, but it shouldn't have to come to that.
"Members of the public, be they patient or visitor, should never abuse a member of staff, physically or verbally, going about their duty and we must raise awareness of the problem.
"Figures released earlier this year show the extent of the problem. It is therefore important that all NHS staff report an incident no matter how trivial it may seem."
Investment will be broken down by NHS Boards as follows:
Argyll & Clyde £30,800
Ayrshire & Arran £25,750
Borders £7,800
Dumfries & Galloway £10,800
Fife £20,800
Forth Valley £17,250
Grampian £35,500
Greater Glasgow £75,000
Highland £16,600
Lanarkshire £30,200
Lothian £56,000
Orkney £2,500
Tayside £34,000
Shetland £2,500
Western Isles £3,500
State Hospital £2,500
NWTCB £2,500
SAS £9,100
NHS24 £3,000
NHSNSS £8,000
NHS Health Scotland £2,000
NES £2,000
NQiS £2,000