Around three in four UK Emergency Department staff have told the Royal College of Emergency Medicine that they experience or witness violence and aggression in their department on a daily or weekly basis.

That’s according to new survey data, revealed as part of the launch of RCEM’s Safe to Care campaign.

'Safe to Care' aims to highlight the appalling levels of violence and aggression that doctors, nurses and other healthcare staff in Emergency Medicine continue to face while at work.

The report said levels of violence towards NHS staff have “become intolerable”.

RCEM surveyed over 2,000 ED staff, with 96 per cent of respondents saying they experienced violence or aggression in their ED from patients or members of the public.

More than three quarters said it was a weekly, or even daily, occurrence and around two thirds said the incidents they experienced were of a discriminatory nature.

Just four per cent told RCEM that they always felt safe working in ED, and barely more than half felt safe most of the time.

“If left to continue, the impact this will have on the workforce could be devastating for Emergency Medicine,” the report said, with 75 per cent of staff reporting short-term stress and anxiety, 40 per cent experiencing burnout, 14 per cent taking time off work – and 28 per cent experiencing long-term stress or anxiety.

Meanwhile, many staff said they had little confidence that reporting incidents will lead to action, with fewer than half (41 per cent) of staff who made a report saying their trust took ‘meaningful action’.

Dr Ian Higginson, President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said: “No one should go to work fearing or, worse, expecting, to be attacked, intimidated or abused.

“Nor should they lack confidence that their employers have their backs, or that the judicial system will kick in.

“Yet, that’s the reality faced by the majority of my colleagues in EDs across the country.

“They often do not feel safe to care for patients.

“It is an appalling state of affairs which is contributing towards many people seriously considering whether Emergency Medicine – or even healthcare in general – is for them.

“Tackling violence and aggression is crucial for the wellbeing of staff, whose dedication to the NHS is all too frequently being repaid in kicks, punches and abhorrent verbal abuse.

“We know that long waits and crowding are key drivers of this, but that is not the fault of staff – that's on our governments.

“Every hour of every day, our Emergency Medicine teams are there for patients.

“It’s time staff received the respect and safety they deserve.

“Much has been said by us and other organisations over the years about violence and aggression towards healthcare staff.

“But the problem seems to be getting worse, not better.

“It’s time for action, time for governments, employers and organisations stand up for NHS staff, and time to ensure that those who intimidate, abuse or assault those who are trying to care for them face meaningful consequences for their actions.”