There has been increase in physical attacks on hospital staff by patients, a board meeting of West Herts Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust heard.

Board members of the trust, which oversees Watford, St Albans and Hemel Hempstead Hospitals, were provided with an update from its quality and safety committee, last held on September 26.

Heather Moulder, chair of the quality and safety committee, told board members about several reports that had been discussed in relation to risk management.

Ms Moulder said: “Another very lengthy report was the environment and compliance report. It was very detailed, covering eight areas of responsibility, and I’m not going to go into detail [on every one].

“We particularly noted the key staffing appointments, which included a fire safety advisor, improvements in our premises assurance model scores for 2022/23. There are no serious or enforcement actions from the recent Herts Fire and Safety Service audit, and there continues to be remedial work in relation to the 2023 fire risk assessment.

(Image: Google Street View) “There has been an increase in health and safety incidents, most significantly an increase in physical assaults, mostly involving attacks on staff – I have to say – probably, from disorientated or unhappy patients and family, but often patients that are unwell.”

Ms Moulder also described an initiative called ‘Freedom to Speak Up’, adding: “It’s about making sure that everyone who works for us feels safe and confident to speak up.”

She said the trust has 42 ‘Freedom to Speak Up’ champions spread across departments at all levels.

Chief nurse Kelly McGovern said: “The part about staff being hurt etc by patients, just to provide some reassurances, it’s complex and there are lots of patients who are in difficult circumstances, who can’t always help what their actions are.

“But, we’ve got a really robust plan that we’re working on with our security team [The safety incidents against staff] and we’ve got a whole programme of work that’s started. We’ve got extra measures that we’ve put in and we have seen a reduction in this happening.”