Violence and aggression

Violence and aggression are now considered one of the most serious occupational hazards facing staff in the healthcare sector. The North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust, which covers the Merseyside area, is actively tackling this problem in order to protect its staff.

CALM DOWN IT’S NOT WORTH IT

The North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) actively promotes its ‘Stop Abuse’ campaign in Liverpool, and across the rest of the North West, which aims to raise awareness of the violence and aggression that can be directed at ambulance staff and reinforces that it will not be tolerated. It is delivered in partnership with Merseyside Police, Cheshire Constabulary, Greater Manchester Police, Lancashire Constabulary, Cumbria Constabulary and numerous Pub Watch schemes operating in the region. The scheme was piloted here in Liverpool city centre in December 2007 and has now been developed across the North West region.

‘Pub Watch’ or as it is known in Liverpool, Licensees Watch, is a national voluntary organisation set up to support existing licensees and encourage a safe, secure social drinking environment in all licensed premises, helping to reduce drink-related crime. It’s supported by local police forces.

Most of the pubs in Liverpool will be members of the Licensees Watch. The ‘Stop Abuse’ partnership works together to alert the public of the unacceptable behaviour of individuals who assault ambulance crews and encourages ambulance crews to report assaults both internally, and via the Police and Pub Watch. If an ambulance crew is subjected to a physical or verbal assault inside a licensed premise, then the offender may find themselves being issued with a banning order by that particular Pub Watch membership.

The banning order can be given irrespective of whether any criminal sanction is given by the police. The banning order will see you excluded from all other pubs and clubs within the area where the Pub Watch Scheme operates.

Banning orders can be for a minimum of three months to a maximum of 12 months but this can be extended if required.

If you would like more information on the campaign, please go to: www.nwas.nhs.uk or call 0845 112 0999