Keeping our staff safe
Local people are being reminded to respect staff at Newham Hospital in a new campaign which aims to stamp out violence and abuse.
The campaign has been launched in response to an independent poll which showed 40 per cent of staff have experienced harassment, bullying or abuse at work in the last 12 months from patients, their relatives or other members of the public.
Posters are being displayed across the hospital to remind patients that the hospital has a zero tolerance policy when it comes to violence and abuse and that action will be taken.
Barts Health NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, enforces a process with a yellow and red card policy to combat unacceptable behaviour towards staff. A yellow card means that a written warning will be given and a red card means workers reserve the right to contact the police and only emergency treatment will be undertaken as the hospital cannot guarantee the safety of its staff.
Chris Pocklington, Managing Director of Newham Hospital, said: "Every day our staff work tirelessly to care for our patients and any threat to their safety is inexcusable. We are taking action to tell all who come through our doors that we will not tolerate violence, abuse or harassment towards any of our staff."