Hospital Staff At Great Risk Of Attack And Injury Whilst At Work
|
There are millions of people working extremely hard every day in the UK to ensure that the public are healthy and recover from illness or accidents. Countless medical staff around the country study hard to become doctors and nurses and then work long hours and endure stressful situations in order to save the lives of men women and children every day. These people are present day saints and have chosen the caring professions because they genuinely want to help others. Sadly though, their efforts sometimes are not appreciated.
Figures show that each hospital in the UK reports an average of 43 violent assaults on staff every year. From receptionists and porters, to nurses, surgeons and doctors, people trying hard to make others feel better, are constantly at risk from unprovoked attack by unruly patients. Under the Freedom of Information Act, hospitals around the country have revealed that patients will use the nearest weapon available, from a hot drink to a zimmer frame, in order to inflict injury upon medical staff. In Wales figures show that a worker is attacked every two hours, with an average of 13 attacks per day across the country. There were around 7,500 reports of physical and verbal abuse across Wales last year.
The reasons for these attacks range from anger about waiting times to frustration from friends and relatives about visiting hours. Around 40% of attacks are alcohol induced with many patients being admitted to hospital with self inflicted drinking injuries. It is believed that the high numbers relate to the fact that staff are now actively encouraged to report any incident where they are threatened or attacked.
Under current law people who attack medical staff are likely to receive a charge of assault rather than the offence of serious assault, which is the offence people are charged with after attacking a police officer. Calls are being made for attacks on hospital staff to be taken more seriously after it was revealed that of 116,000 verbal or physical assaults carried out in 2003, only 50 led to prosecutions. Staff are hoping for a zero tolerance approach to violence in hospital.
There are several cases where staff have made successful compensation claims against hospitals where they work. For example a nurse made a claim for compensation and received £5,000 after being attacked from behind by a patient. She had tried to prevent the patient from attacking another and was then attacked herself. Hospitals have a duty of care, just like any other employer, to protect their staff from injury and accidents at work. Even though violence appears to be commonplace, action should be taken to reduce the risk to people who have dedicated their lives to helping people who are sick and in need.
If you have been injured whilst at work and your employer was to blame or did not protect you, then you are entitled to make a claim for personal injury compensation.
To get free legal advice and a no obligation assessment of your claim then call The Accident Compensation Solicitors on 0808 144 00 43.
Editorial notes: www.accident-compensation-solicitor-uk.co.uk provides personal injury compensation following a non fault accident.
The author: Sophie Evans - www.accident-compensation-solicitor-uk.co.uk
Accident Compensation Solicitors provide customers with personal injury compensation following a non fault accident. They work on a no win no fee basis ensuring that customers get 100% compensation. Call 0808 144 0043 for more information about making a claim.
|
|
|
What Every Employee Should Know About How To Overcome Boredom
Do you find yourself easily becoming bored or tired at work for no apparent reason? If that's the case, then pay close attention. Research has shown that fatigue and a worn-out feeling are often caused by unproductive mental attitudes. If this describes your case, read on to learn six ways you can overcome boredom.* 1. Actively listen to everyone you meet: When you're interested in people, life is never flat or dull. And when you listen actively, you are so involved in what the other person has to say that you soon lose sight of your own predicament.* 2. Become enthusiastic about life, people, and things: You will soon find that you will feel enthusiastic, too.* 3. Make sure your work challenges all your resources: Start a hob...(related: Employment)
Are You Ready For A New Career?
Is your current or most recent job truly what you want to do?Do you dread the prospect of coming into work every day? Do you look back on your work day as you travel home and cannot seem to find a fulfilling moment? If you answered yes, read on.You could be unhappy with your supervisor; you may not like the politics or corporate culture; or you may not like the industry you are in. You may also feel that you are underpaid, underutilized, undervalued or unappreciated. You may not have sufficient opportunities for career advancement; or perh...(related: Employment)
Occupational Health And Safety - Stress And Workaholism At Work
There has been a lot of hullabaloo recently about the problems facing Australia in retaining talented workers and the subsequent pressure placed on those remaining behind in the workplace.The incidence in stress claims is rising and is having an impact on the economy and enterprises in general.The incidences of people who work 'day in day out' who in many ways are closet workaholics is increasing.We are told that 1 in 5 Australians are suffering from some sort of mental illness and that 1 in 7 teenager's at high-school suffer from depression. This comes from proven research but my guess is that it is probably higher, after all these subjects are still quite taboo in our society.Why be the richest and unhappiest person in the cemetery? Take a walk around the local cemetery som...(related: Employment)
4 Internet Job Search Mistakes To Avoid
The Internet is the most powerful employment tool on earth. Hands down.With the Web, you can access millions of job openings on thousands of sites. With email, you can quickly contact employers and ask for interviews.Yet, if used incorrectly, the Internet can actually prevent you from being as productive as possible in your search for work.How? Why?Here are four mistakes that commonly befall job seekers using the Internet. Avoid them, and get hired faster.1) Don't Email Your Resume Wrong
How To Ask For A Pay Rise!
Negotiating a pay rise is not something many people do on a regular basis. By applying these keys you will be well positioned to improve your negotiation skills and feel more empowered when asking for a pay rise.1. Know the outcome you want.Do you want a win-win outcome where both you and your boss benefit? Or a win-lose ou...(related: Employment)
Career Strategy When Your Boss Is A Bully
Q. Right after I accepted my new position, the manager who hired me quit. I now have a boss "Sam" who's a classic bully. He has most of the office terrorized. Every question becomes a confrontation. Last week, he walked into the conference room as I was meeting with a custo...(related: Employment)
Getting The Job Thats Right For You
I'm the type of person that considers a healthy, enjoyable job alot more valuable than a high paying one. This may be as foreign a concept to some people as our society continues to descend into the depths of materialism. Id gladly take a job doing something i loved and with people i enjoyed for a bit less money than I would have pocketed working at the vomitoriam.So, amidst the whirlwind of resumes, applications and soul scorching interviews, take a moment to consider the environment of your workplace-to be. Have a chat with one of the low-level...(related: Employment)
Get Paid To Shop And Keep Everything You Buy - Without Having To Pay!
Can You Tell Good Service From Bad; Recognise Value For Money; Compare Prices, Staff Efficiency, Product Range, Customer Service Between Rival Firms?If so you might easily find work as a 'Mystery Shopper' and be paid to comment on service in shops, banks and building societies, hotels, cinemas, veterinary surgeries, restaurants, even on long distance flights and holidays.Poor service is the number one reason customers turn their back on a business and start shopping elsewhere. Worse still, one dissatisfied customer tells on average sixteen more people about their experience, meaning even greater loss of customers and profits for business owners.Even taking too long to answer the telephone or replenish the shelves, inadequate parking facilities, crowded toilets and poor s...(related: Employment)
Get Out Of Your Comfort Zone In The Job Search
Most everyone these days knows what a comfort zone is. My definition is the place, environment and tasks that we have learned to do and feel comfortable with--a comfort zone.Lots of people feel devastated when they have lost a job as their comfort zone no longer exists. In other words, the time, place, co-workers, tasks which have been performed on the job don't exist any more. It's an uncomfortable place to be in. There is no sense of direction.However, if we as workers realize that a comfort zone can disappear at any time, it is important to get out of our comfort zone while working. It does not take lots of money to be adventurous in looking at what other people do.When we establish a reason to find out about other's jobs, we can unders...(related: Employment)
Networking - A Key Factor In A Successful Job Search
In today's economy, job seekers need an edge beyond their experience, education and specific industry and job-related skills, in order to find and secure a position. Regardless if you are ...(related: Employment)
The 7 Tough Job Interview Questions That Can Make Or Break You - And How To Answer Them
Some interview questions are asked so frequently that they've become classics. Practically every interview you go on you'll be answering one or more of these seven interview questions.Why are these the most frequently asked interview questions? Probably because they give the employer a good idea of who you are and if you're the best fit for their company.** Tell Me About YourselfThis is an obvious open-ended questions where the interviewer is inviting you to give some background on yourself. But wait. Should you start revealing personal information about yourself? No. This isn't a beauty contest or game show.How to Answer: This is not a question you should try to wing off the top of your head. You need to write down a careful an...(related: Employment)
Online Resume Tips And Secrets
I manage a website for corporate flight attendants that features resumes prominently listed on the first page of the site. Unlike some careers, corporate flight attendants must promote themselves overtly in order to find wo...(related: Employment)
site-map - Copyright © 2007 | Contact Webmaster | All Rights Reserved | Free Articles and Information | Employment