Health leaders from the Royal College of Emergency Medicine have revealed that A&E staff face physical violence, racism, and aggression on a daily or weekly basis, with some workers experiencing direct verbal abuse and physical attacks. According to a survey of 2,126 emergency department workers, 96% reported experiencing violence or aggression, with 73% saying it happens at least weekly. The crisis has become "normalised" for staff, who feel unsafe and "expect" to be attacked, with only 4% feeling safe in the workplace. Dr Ian Higginson, RCEM president, launched a campaign calling for tackling violence and aggression against A&E staff as crucial for their wellbeing.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-07,
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A&E staff face violence and aggression on a daily or weekly basis with some workers kicked and racially abused, health leaders have revealed.
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The Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) warned the crisis has become 'normalised' and is being fuelled by long waits for care and a shortage of staff.
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In most instances workers say their NHS trust failed to take meaningful action against the perpetrators, leaving staff feeling unsafe and 'expecting' to be attacked or intimidated as a matter of course.
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It has forced victims to take time off work to recover from their physical and mental scars and led 'far too many' to quit, unions add.
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The RCEM surveyed 2,126 workers in emergency departments and found 96 per cent have experienced violence or aggression from patients or other members of the public.
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Some 73 per cent said this happened weekly or even daily, and two thirds said the incidents involved discrimination against them.
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One resident doctor, speaking anonymously, said: 'Working in the emergency department, you brace yourself for a lot, but nothing truly prepares you for direct, hateful verbal abuse, especially when it's racially charged.'
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A consultant also told how they had been kicked in the face by an aggressive patient lying on a trolley.
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In most instances workers say their NHS trust failed to take meaningful action against the perpetrators, leaving staff feeling unsafe and 'expecting' to be attacked or intimidated as a matter of course.
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Fewer than one in 20 staff surveyed (4 per cent) said they always felt safe working in emergency departments, while 57 per cent felt safe most of the time.
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Just 41 per cent of staff who made a report said their NHS trust took meaningful action.
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Launching the RCEM's new Safe to Care campaign, its president Dr Ian Higginson said: 'No-one should go to work fearing – or, worse, expecting – to be attacked, intimidated or abused.
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Nor should they lack confidence that their employers have their backs, or that the judicial system will kick in.
'Yet, that's the reality faced by the majority of my colleagues in emergency departments across the country.
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They often do not feel safe to care for patients.
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It is an appalling state of affairs which is contributing towards many people seriously considering whether emergency medicine – or even healthcare in general – is for them.
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'Tackling violence and aggression is crucial for the wellbeing of staff, whose dedication to the NHS is all too frequently being repaid in kicks, punches and abhorrent verbal abuse.
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We know that long waits and crowding are key drivers of this, but that is not the fault of staff – that's on our governments.
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It's time staff received the respect and safety they deserve.'
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In the survey, staff said the issue was made worse by long waiting times (90 per cent), overcrowding (85 per cent), staff shortages and corridor care (both 65 per cent).
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More than one in four patients waited more than four hours to be admitted, transferred or discharged after attending A&E in July, the latest figures show.
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Dr Catherine Hayhurst, co-chair of the RCEM quality in emergency care committee, said: 'Some of the stories that our members have told the campaign so far have been heartbreaking – but not surprising.
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Anyone who works in emergency departments knows that violence and aggression towards healthcare staff has become normalised.
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'That must end and we call on policymakers and NHS leaders to help us make emergency departments a safer place for staff.'
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Dr Den Langhor, from the British Medical Association, said: 'Extremely long waits and overcrowded A&Es can cause huge frustration for patients, but that can never justify abuse or intimidation of staff.
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The new NHS staff standards introduced this summer mean employers are now accountable for tackling such violence against staff - and these stark figures show there is a long way to go.
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'Hospital trusts must take urgent, meaningful action to create the safe working environment all staff are entitled to.'
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Professor Nicola Ranger, general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, said: 'These figures are profoundly shocking and show the torrent of abuse that health workers face.
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We know the NHS is becoming a more dangerous place to work, and this falls especially hard on female dominated professions like nursing.
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'Far too many are being forced to take time off or even leave the profession because of the physical and mental scarring that can result from these attacks.'
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A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'Any acts of violence, abuse or harassment towards NHS staff are completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
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'Everyone working in our national health service has a fundamental right to be safe at work, and it is deeply concerning that so many emergency department staff continue to experience this behaviour.
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'That is why this government recently introduced new NHS staff standards, which set out the steps that every NHS employer across the country must take to prevent and reduce violence and abuse against their staff and help ensure they can do their jobs safely.'
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