14,000 attacks on NHS staff in Scotland

Almost 14,000 assaults to NHS Scotland staff were recorded in the nine months leading up to December 2015, according to figures obtained by Scottish Labour.

The previous year’s figure show that for the overall year, 22,771 incidents of violence took place against NHS staff, with the Scottish government maintaining the ‘perpetrators must be dealt with in the strongest possible terms’.

Dr Richard Simpson, Scottish Labour's public services spokesman, said: "No-one should face the threat of violence for doing their job.

"Our NHS staff are Scotland's unsung heroes having dedicated their careers to helping others and saving lives. We learned this week that more working days are being lost due to staff stress, but these new figures should concern us all.

"The Scottish National Party (SNP) government must work with health boards, trades unions and staff to ensure that the conditions exist where such offences are minimised - and also to ensure that those who are violent are properly prosecuted. Many people will question if a fine is the most appropriate way to deal with assaults on NHS staff."

Health Secretary Shona Robison said: "Attacks against NHS staff are despicable and the perpetrators must be dealt with in the strongest possible terms.

"No-one should be the victim of abuse or violence while at work. We continue to encourage all NHS organisations to support criminal proceedings against anyone who assaults our staff."