Stop Violence on NHS Staff: Sign the petition Now

[AMG Merc]

Apologies if posted elsewhere, did check and couldn't find anything...

This is about the disgraceful situation regarding the c. 193 attacks a day on NHS staff. I signed the petition last week when it was 2,500 signatures - now at 90,755 as I type this! When it reaches 100,000 the government has to listen. It's considered a a higher level serious offence to assault Medics, Police and Firemen (Fire people!) in many other countries - but not here. Here its just assault.

These people go out in challenging situations, saving lives - and for little pay and they get knocked about.

Let's add a PistonHead push guys. Surely, a worthy cause...

http://www.lbc.co.uk/radio/presenters/nick-ferrari...

Edited by AMG Merc on Wednesday 18th January 10:38

[Rovinghawk]

AMG Merc said:

It's an offence to assault Medics, Police and Firemen (Fire people!) in many other countries - but not here.

It is an offence- it's called assault.

[Oakey]

"It's an offence to assault Medics, Police and Firemen (Fire people!) in many other countries - but not here."

bks

[Wobbegong]

Are they not protected by standard violence laws? If I kicked someone in the genitals I'd probably be arrested for assault, so surely it is the same if I did the same to an NHS worker?

[AMG Merc]

Oakey said:

"It's an offence to assault Medics, Police and Firemen (Fire people!) in many other countries - but not here."

bks

Apologies, not what I meant. I was referring to the fact that judges in other countries can give much higher sentences than just assault - have amended post.

Edited by AMG Merc on Wednesday 18th January 10:29

[jjlynn27]

Signed. It's a sad state of affairs that this is even necessary.

[Rovinghawk]

I put it to you that the penalty for me smacking a nurse in a hospital will be higher than for smacking a bloke outside a pub.

[Jonesy23]

While I'm sympathetic I don't think there is any need for a particular class of people to be special and have extra laws to cover something that is already illegal.

If they have a problem they should be talking to their employers about it to make sure that existing law is applied.

Also I'm unclear exactly what they would be trying to have as a solution? Low rates of conviction wouldn't be affected by anything they could propose, all I've ever heard is suggestion that the punishment could be worse in these cases. Which relies on a conviction... and varying the punishment isn't going to be a deterrent for the sort of person who'll do this so it'd be a waste of time.

[AMG Merc]

Rovinghawk said:

I put it to you that the penalty for me smacking a nurse in a hospital will be higher than for smacking a bloke outside a pub.

Can't see why. That's my point, today assault us assault.

[Dr Murdoch]

Isn't this to give them the same amount of protection that serving Police officers have?

If you kick me in the nuts you'll get x punishment

If you kick a Police officer in the nuts you'll get a stiffer punishment?

I would agree that NHS staff should be treated like Police officers in this instance, absolutely disgusting that 'animals' actually assault those whose role it is to look after them. Beggars belief.

Edited by Dr Murdoch on Wednesday 18th January 10:48

[AMG Merc]

Dr Murdoch said:

Isn't this to give them the same amount of protection the serving Police officers have?

If you kick me in the nuts you'll get x punishment

If you kick a Police officer in the nuts you'll get a stiffer punishment?

I would agree that NHS staff should be treated like Police officers in this instance, absolutely disgusting the animals assault those whose role it is to look after people. Beggars belief.

Precisely. That's what I was attempting to say. Thanks.

[jjlynn27]

A couple of months ago, while waiting for a friend doc to finish his handover I've witnessed a physical attack on mental health nurse by a patient. Luckily, two porters (I believe that that's what they were) managed to restrain her. Nurse straightened her uniform, sorted out her hair and just went to pick another patient, in a manner that would indicate that it's not the first time that she was facing that situation.

[feef]

While I agree that NHS staff should be given the same level of care as the police etc in the eyes of the law, I do wonder whether additional laws have that much effect.

If someone's doing something illegal, is making it illegal in a different way going to deter them? They're already set on doing something they know is going to land them in trouble

Whether they contemplate the implications of their actions is neither here or there

[paulrockliffe]

jjlynn27 said:

A couple of months ago, while waiting for a friend doc to finish his handover I've witnessed a physical attack on mental health nurse by a patient. Luckily, two porters (I believe that that's what they were) managed to restrain her. Nurse straightened her uniform, sorted out her hair and just went to pick another patient, in a manner that would indicate that it's not the first time that she was facing that situation.

So an assault took place, there were at least four witnesses and no one reported it to the Police? That's the starting point right there.

[paulrockliffe]

AMG Merc said:

Can't see why. That's my point, today assault us assault.

And yet we have sentencing guidelines that include a range of punishment options including shorter and longer prison sentences?

[GroundEffect]

paulrockliffe said:

jjlynn27 said:

A couple of months ago, while waiting for a friend doc to finish his handover I've witnessed a physical attack on mental health nurse by a patient. Luckily, two porters (I believe that that's what they were) managed to restrain her. Nurse straightened her uniform, sorted out her hair and just went to pick another patient, in a manner that would indicate that it's not the first time that she was facing that situation.

So an assault took place, there were at least four witnesses and no one reported it to the Police? That's the starting point right there.

And what are the police going to do against someone who is mentally incapable?

[anonymous-user]

One aggravating factor for assaults is, "Offence committed against those working in the public sector or providing a service to the public." Whether that goes far enough is another matter.

http://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/wp-content/upl...

[zygalski]

NHS workers are mostly left wing, so no doubt deserve a good kicking.
With any luck the NHS will collapse & private healthcare will take over completely.
Perhaps assaults on staff on a regular basis will hasten its demise?
Not signing.

[GroundEffect]

zygalski said:

NHS workers are mostly left wing, so no doubt deserve a good kicking.
With any luck the NHS will collapse & private healthcare will take over completely.
Perhaps assaults on staff on a regular basis will hasten its demise?
Not signing.

Well aren't you a fking idiot.

[jjlynn27]

GroundEffect said:

Well aren't you a fking idiot.

Think that if you listen carefully you'll hear the wooshing sound above.