Staff at Queen and King George Hospital must wear body cameras

Violence against hospital staff has more than doubled in east London in the past three years since the pandemic.

And now two hospitals will use cameras similar to those used by the police, and a public awareness campaign against “intolerance” has been launched.

Hospitals are introducing 60 new video recorders for use in emergency departments and patients to protect staff.

A series of 'No Abuse, No Excuse' posters were put up by Barking, Havering and University of Redbridge NHS Trust today (February 26) after staff involved in violent confrontations decided to 'go public' and speak out.

One nurse, Yvonne Ihekwoakba, was knocked to the ground by a man who was receiving treatment.

“My patient was abusive when I offered him his medication,” she revealed. “I tried to calm him down.

“But the next thing I knew, I was punched in the stomach and fell to the floor. I was in the emergency room for several hours.”

The incidents also included death threats, racist abuse, employees being told to “go back to the jungle” and even teeth being knocked out.

Security officer Mohammed Islam was attacked while taking a patient to his room.

“He kicked me in the jaw,” Mohammed recalled. “A man broke my teeth and I was bleeding. It was difficult for me physically and mentally to return to work.”

Appointments officer Theo Kayode-Osiemi faced racial slurs during a public meeting at his desk.

He said: “I have often been called names that are unpleasant to hear or repeat. One day I was told to go to the jungle, where I belong.'

A “no nonsense” campaign is warning people visiting hospitals that punching, shouting or racist remarks “will not be tolerated”.

The hospital's chief executive, Matthew Trainor, warned: “Our staff should not be shouted at, hit or subjected to racist abuse in the course of their work. This is happening more and more in our hospitals and we are taking action.

“Our message couldn't be simpler – no abuse, no excuses.”

Hospitals have made it easier for staff to “red card” or ban abusive patients from visiting them for 12 months if it is clinically safe to do so. This has happened only once in the last five years under the existing more complex rules.

They also strengthen personnel training and increase the visibility of law enforcement.

The number of incidents reported at the two hospitals rose to 75 in January, compared to half the number in January 2021.

Figures from the 2022 NHS staff survey show that across England, 28% of staff have been harassed, bullied or abused by patients, their relatives or other members of the public at work.

And 14.5 percent of the workforce have experienced violence and aggression from those they care for.