Randerson wins backing for crackdown on NHS violence

4.18.41pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 13th Jun 2007

Jenny Randerson AM won the backing of AMs today for her motion calling for tougher action to tackle unacceptable levels of violence against NHS staff.

Mrs. Randerson, health spokesperson for the Welsh Liberal Democrats, lead the calls for action against NHS violence in an opposition debate which focused on staff morale. She highlighted the high numbers of doctors and nurses who are attacked in Wales every week.

Jenny Randerson AM, said: "We need to adopt a zero-tolerance approach to aggression or violence against NHS staff, requiring all LHBs and Trusts to have robust procedures in place to deal with those who intimidate staff and to support staff after such incidents.

"I wrote to Brian Gibbons (previous health minister) in August imploring him to take firmer action. In England the Police and the NHS are committed to investigate every reported incident of violence and abuse to NHS staff. Attacks on our hard pressed NHS staff must be taken more seriously.

The debate also looked at the impact on nurse's morale of the Labour government's decision to delay their annual pay award. The All-Wales Accord, the three party deal negotiated by Jenny with Plaid Cymru and the Conservatives, would deliver the pay rise in full to nurses in Wales.

Jenny said: "While I am sure that nurses in Wales are pleased for their Scottish colleagues pay rise I can't help wondering why Wales can't manage the same. For every £100 earned by nurses in Scotland from April 1, their colleagues in Wales will receive £99.02, for the same work.

"Nurses are being asked to do more and more in the NHS and it is difficult to retain and recruit nurses. Delaying their pay rise is a cheap way for Gordon Brown to save a few pennies, but will do nothing to boost morale in the sector. The Labour Government in Westminster has made a poor decision. The Labour Government in Cardiff Bay has compounded it by refusing to fight for a fair deal for our nurses."

Commenting on the chaos surrounding applications by Junior Doctor, Mrs Randerson added: "Doctors in Wales have been expressing their concerns to me citing the lack of fairness in the online application form which fails to allow them to properly detail their experience and post graduate qualifications.

"The website has been unable to deal with the level of traffic and non qualified staffs are dealing with the first round of applications. How can doctors be confident in the process when they are not truly judged on their merits? "

Notes:

A motion was moved today to propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Calls on the Assembly Government to take steps to address low staff morale within the NHS and to begin by:

a) implementing the full pay increase for nurses;

b) developing an appropriate application process for junior doctors;

c) developing a strategy to minimise abuse of NHS staff.

The successful Welsh Liberal Democrats amendment reads:

Add at end of point c:

"by requiring all LHBs and Trusts to have robust procedures in place to deal with those who intimidate staff and to support staff after such incidents."

Ends/diwedd