The Royal College of Nursing said there were 4,054 cases of physical violence against A&E staff recorded in 2024, up from 2,093 in 2019, after sending freedom of information (FOI) requests to NHS hospitals with accident and emergency departments. Conditions for nurses are at an all-time low (stock) (Image: Marbury via Getty Images)

Nurses are enduring "abhorrent" levels of violence in A&E departments, including being punched, spat at and even having a gun aimed at them. The nursing union has also highlighted that lengthy waits in A&E are fuelling anger among patients who are not typically violent. ‌

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has called for more to be done to safeguard NHS staff. Without measures to address long waiting times, corridor care and "chronic" staffing is

See Full Page