AQW 3422/09 Written question to the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (i) how many assaults were carried out against health care officials, in the current year in each Health and Social Care Trust as well as the comparable figures for the previous year; (ii) how many prosecutions were pursued as a result of an assault on a health care official; and how many prosecutions were successful; (iii) what support and assistance were given by his Department to health care officials who have suffered an assault; and (v) what assistance is provided to health care officials who wish to prosecute a person who carried out an assault against them.
Asked by Naomi Long MLA on 9 December 2008
- Answered
- Written
- After due date
- Tabled
- 9 December 2008
- Answer due by
- 17 December 2008
- Answered
- 23 December 200814 days after tabling
- Department
- Department of Health
- Priority question
- No
Answer
The number of physical and verbal attacks over the previous two years.
| 2008/2009* | 2007/2008 | |||
| Physical | Verbal | Physical | Verbal | |
| Northern Health and Social Care Trust | 556 | 188 | 889 | 331 |
| Southern Health and Social Care Trust | 324 | 171 | 385 | 320 |
| South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust | 237 | 67 | 973 | 234 |
| Western Health and Social Care Trust | 368 | 190 | 618 | 272 |
| Belfast Health and Social Care Trust | 690 | 310 | 1372 | 580 |
| Northern Ireland Ambulance Services Health and Social Care Trust | 38 | 38 | 82 | 56 |
| Others | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
| Totals | 2213 | 965 | 4319 | 1793 |
| 3178 | 6120 | |||
* Figures are collected by the Department on a six monthly basis. The figures for 2008/2009 reflect the period from 1st April 2008 to 30 September 2008
Prosecution statistics collected by the Public Prosecution Service do not distinguish healthcare workers as a specific category. Trusts have Zero Tolerance policies in place that indicate that support will be provided by line management following the report of an assault. Similar arrangements are in place to support staff in the event that a prosecution is appropriate.