Citation

Cole A. Br. Med. J. BMJ 2005; 330(7502): 1227.

Affiliation

London, UK.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, BMJ Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1136/bmj.330.7502.1227-a

PMID

15920113

PMCID

PMC558117

Abstract

A detailed audit of 265 facilities for psychiatry and learning disability in England and Wales has uncovered "startlingly high" levels of violence towards staff and among patients. It says that alcohol and drug abuse are the main triggers for this violence, although other factors are staff shortages, failures in basic safety techniques, poor training, and boredom and inactivity on many wards. The study, produced by the Royal College of Psychiatrists for the NHS inspection body the Healthcare Commission, shows that nurses suffer the most violence, with nearly four out of five saying they experienced violent or threatening behaviour during their time on the ward. One staff member said it had become "part of the job." Patients and other staff encountered less violence; but even so more than a third of patients and 18% of visitors reported experiencing violent behaviour of some sort.