NHS staff awarded more than £500k in compensation for assault claims

NHS staff given more than £500k in compensation for assault claims
-Credit:Copyright Unknown


One Lancashire NHS Trust has paid out more than £500,000 in compensation relating to staff assault claims in just five years, new figures show.

Data obtained by law firm Legal Expert shows that in five NHS Trusts across Lancashire and south Cumbria, a combined 112 assault claims and incidents were reported to NHS Resolution, the legal arm of the NHS, between 2019 and 2024.

The figures emerged following a recent attack on a nurse at The Royal Oldham Hospital’s acute medical unit (AMU) on January 11. A nurse in her 50s was left with life-changing injuries after being stabbed with a 'sharp instrument', according to Greater Manchester Police. A 37-year-old man, Roman Haque, has been charged with attempted murder and possession of a bladed article.

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"These figures are extremely concerning. Nobody should have to feel threatened at work - especially hard-working, vital NHS staff,” says Legal Expert solicitor Patrick Mallon.

Figures obtained under Freedom of Information law reveal staff assault claims have cost one local Trust half a million pounds in the last five years. Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust has paid out a total of £500,853 settling 33 of the 65 staff assault claims reported since 2019.

Mr Mallon added: “Something must be done to tackle abuse towards NHS staff who are just trying to do their jobs.”

Police outside The Royal Oldham Hospital after a nurse was stabbed on January 11
Police outside The Royal Oldham Hospital after a nurse was stabbed on January 11 -Credit:Manchester Evening News

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (14 incidents), Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (also 14 incidents), North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust (10 incidents) and University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (nine incidents) did not settle any claims with damages in the time period studied.

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As a whole, the NHS has paid a total of £20,763,095 in damages settling 1,017 NHS staff assault claims since 2019. The highest number of claims out of the 236 NHS Trusts in England were lodged against Mersey Care NHS Trust, which had 122 claims and incidents reported to NHS Resolution. It paid out £1,158,679 relating to 62 claims - the second highest amount out of all Trusts.

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has paid out the most in damages, totalling £1,180,394, to settle 10 staff assault claims. The Trust, which has locations in Brighton, Hove, East Sussex and West Sussex, has dealt with 20 claims and incidents of NHS staff assaults since 2019.

Northern Care Alliance NHS Trust Foundation Trust, which runs The Royal Oldham Hospital, had 25 claims and incidents of staff assaults recorded by NHS Resolution since 2019 and settled five claims with damages amounting to £37,040.

A separate Freedom of Information request revealed there were at least 41,226 physical assaults on NHS staff working in hospitals in 2023, an increase on the previous year and a 21 per cent jump since 2019. Around 14 per cent of NHS staff have self-reported that they have experienced at least one incident of physical violence from patients, service users, relatives or other members of the public in the last 12 months, according to the latest NHS staff survey.

The ambulance sector is the worst affected, with almost 50 per cent of paramedics experiencing physical abuse. Mr Mallon added: “Whilst claiming against medical bodies like the NHS can seem daunting, such claims help highlight the issues and hopefully start the conversation that leads to change to ensure no staff members ever fall victim to either physical or verbal abuse in the future."

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The trusts with the highest number of NHS staff assault claims are as follows:

  • Mersey Care NHS FT (62)

  • Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS FT (34)

  • Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS FT (33)

  • Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS FT (26)

  • Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust (23)

  • Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust (20)

  • Central and North West London NHS FT (20)

  • East London NHS FT (20)

  • South London & Maudsley NHS FT (20)

  • West London NHS FT (17)

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