Nearly 75% of A&E staff in UK face violence or aggression daily or weekly, survey finds

A survey of 2,126 UK emergency department workers by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine reveals that 73% face violence or aggression daily or weekly, and 96% have experienced abuse. Driven by long waiting times, overcrowding, and staff shortages, this hostile environment has left only 4% of staff feeling safe at all times, causing widespread burnout and stress. In response, the government has introduced new NHS staff standards to prevent and reduce workplace abuse.

A&E staff violence prevalence

• ▪Only 41% of UK emergency department staff who reported violence felt their National Health Service trust took meaningful action.
• ▪The Royal College of Emergency Medicine survey found 63% of UK emergency department staff experienced discrimination, including racism, sexism, and homophobia.
• ▪A Royal College of Emergency Medicine survey of 2,126 UK emergency department staff found 96% experienced violence or hostility from patients or the public.
• ▪The Royal College of Emergency Medicine survey found 73% of UK emergency department staff experienced violence or aggression daily or weekly.
• ▪National Health Service trust records from England showed 295,000 incidents of patient violence and aggression against staff between 2022 and 2025.
• ▪Only 4% of UK emergency department staff surveyed by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine felt safe at all times at work.

NHS overcrowding as driver

• ▪The UK government set a target for 78% of A&E patients to be treated within four hours by March 2026, which was missed at 77.6%.
• ▪Royal College of Emergency Medicine survey respondents cited long waits (90%) and overcrowding (85%) as key drivers of workplace violence and aggression.
• ▪Royal College of Emergency Medicine survey respondents cited staff shortages (65%) and corridor care (65%) as compounding factors for workplace violence.

Staff psychological burnout

• ▪The Royal College of Emergency Medicine survey found 75% of emergency department staff reported short-term stress and anxiety due to workplace conditions.
• ▪Royal College of Emergency Medicine president Dr. Ian Higginson stated that workplace abuse is causing staff to consider leaving emergency medicine or healthcare.

RCEM Safe to Care campaign

• ▪Royal College of Emergency Medicine president Dr. Ian Higginson called on governments and employers to ensure abusers face meaningful legal consequences.
• ▪The Royal College of Emergency Medicine launched the Safe to Care campaign to address violence and improve safety for emergency department staff.

Government NHS staff standards

• ▪A UK Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson stated that any acts of violence, abuse, or harassment towards NHS staff are completely unacceptable.
• ▪The UK Department of Health and Social Care introduced new NHS staff standards to prevent and reduce violence and abuse against healthcare workers.

Debatable claims

• ▪The UK should impose harsher legal penalties on patients who abuse NHS staff
• ▪NHS trusts are failing to protect emergency department staff from workplace violence
• ▪Systemic NHS underfunding is the primary driver of violence against healthcare staff

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