Health and social care workers, including nursing staff, face a higher risk of work-related violence than other occupations (HSE, 2024). Risk varies, with acute mental health having the highest prevalence (Nursing Standard, 2025). Lone workers may be more vulnerable to assaults (HSE, 2025), with nursing students on placements also at risk (Hallet et al 2023).  Since the COVID 19 pandemic, there has been a global increase in violence against nursing staff (ICN, 2022).

All health and social care employers have a legal duty to protect staff and take steps to prevent assaults.  However, in the last five years, the Health and Safety Executive has found many NHS organisations in England, Scotland and Wales failing in their duty to manage risk (HSJ, 2020).

There are country-wide initiatives in place to tackle violence and support staff. For example, in Northern Ireland, the RCN, Department of Health and other stakeholders co-produced a policy on tackling violence and aggression in the workplace (HSC, 2023). In addition, laws are in place in England, Wales and Scotland making it an offence to assault or batter those providing NHS care. Other laws exist across the UK for more serious offences such as actual bodily harm.

The RCN’s position on work-related violence sets out our expectations of employers and the police in preventing and responding to assaults against all nursing staff (RCN, 2021).

References

Department of Health (2023) Violence and aggression in the workplace: HSC framework. Available at: https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/publications/violence-and-aggression-workplace-hsc-framework  

Discombe M (2020) Two-thirds of trusts failing to protect staff from violence. Available at: https://www.hsj.co.uk/workforce/two-thirds-of-trusts-failing-to-protect-staff-from-violence/7026627.article

Hallett N, Gayton A, Dickenson R, Franckel M, and Dickens G L (2023) Student nurses' experiences of workplace violence: A mixed methods systematic review and meta-analysis. Nurse Education Today. doi: 10.1016/j.nedt.2023.105845.

Health and Safety Executive (2025) Violence at Work Statistics 2023/24. Available at:  https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/assets/docs/work-related-violence-report.pdf

Health and Safety Executive (2025) Lone Working: Protecting those who work alone. Available at: https://www.hse.gov.uk/lone-working/employer/manage-the-risks-of-working-alone.htm

International Council of Nurses (2022) Impact of COVID on violence against healthcare. Available at: https://www.icn.ch/news/impact-covid-violence-against-healthcare-report-published-icn-icrc-ihf-and-wma

Mason A and Aurora S (2025) Violence Against Nurses: How Often are Perpetrators Punished? Available at: https://rcni.com/nursing-standard/newsroom/analysis/violence-against-nurses-how-often-are-perpetrators-punished-210556

Royal College of Nursing (2021) RCN position on work related violence in health and social care. Available at: https://www.rcn.org.uk/About-us/Our-Influencing-work/Position-statements/rcn-position-on-work-related-violence-in-health-and-social-care