Third of Northumberland hospital staff experience bullying, harassment or abuse from patients and their families

Employees of Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, which also covers North Tyneside and manages community services in the area, have scored the organisation as the best acute and community trust and the best acute hospital trust nationally.

However, the results of the 2019 NHS Staff Survey, completed by all trusts in England, also show that 28.5% of staff at Northumbria Healthcare have experienced at least one incident of harassment, bullying or abuse from patients, their relatives or the public in the last 12 months.

This was the highest figure in the past five years and placed Northumbria above the average among other acute and community trusts.

By way of comparison, those reporting the same behaviour from managers decreased in 2019, while those experiencing it from other colleagues was at a five-year low. In both cases, the trust was below the benchmarking average.

It reflects a national concern though, with the Health Secretary Matt Hancock writing to NHS workers this week to urge them to to report any incident so those responsible can be held to account. “Being assaulted or abused is not part of your job,” he said.

At Northumbria, the issue was also highlighted following the 2018 survey results, with the trust’s board meeting last April hearing about plans to launch a campaign emphasising zero tolerance of physical violence and abuse towards staff.

But 2018 was positive overall, with Northumbria ranked second among acute hospital trusts, and that has improved still further for 2019, with the trust scoring the highest nationally for equality, diversity and inclusion, health and wellbeing, and morale.

Northumbria was ranked first among acute and community trusts (out of 48), first among acute trusts (out of 86) and joint top alongside Cambridgeshire Community Services, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, and Kent Community Health NHS trusts.

This was based on 76% of staff completing the national survey, which was the best response rate in the country and far above the average of 45%.

The trust’s chief executive, Sir James Mackey, said: “I am incredibly proud that we have been ranked top in the country.

“These results reflect the commitment of the organisation to make Northumbria the best place to work in the NHS in the country.”

He added: “We know there is never room for complacency and always room for improvement. The Northumbria Way ethos embodies being driven and continually pushing boundaries and striving for excellence, despite the challenges we face.”

Ann Stringer, executive director of human resources at Northumbria Healthcare, said: “Our staff experience programme, which was launched last year and is based on previous staff feedback, has enabled us to engage with staff on a wide range of topics and provided a wealth of information.

“This insight gives us the opportunity to improve relationships, on all levels, and to evolve our work to support their short and long-term wellbeing in a focussed and meaningful way.”