A survey of over 2,000 workers in UK accident and emergency departments reveals widespread abuse facing frontline medical staff. The Royal College of Emergency Medicine found that 73% of respondents encounter violence or aggression on a daily or weekly basis, while 96% reported experiencing some form of abuse from patients or members of the public. Additionally, 63% of surveyed staff indicated they had suffered discrimination including racism, sexism, and homophobia.
Emergency department workers attributed the increase in hostile behavior to systemic pressures within the NHS. Long waiting times, overcrowded facilities, staff shortages, and corridor care—where patients receive treatment in non-clinical spaces due to overcrowding—were identified as key factors contributing to aggression. Medical professionals described violence and aggression as having become a “routine” aspect of working in emergency medicine, with individual accounts detailing verbal abuse and physical assaults.
The survey data highlights concerning effects on staff wellbeing and retention. Only 4% of respondents reported always feeling safe at work, while 75% experienced short-term stress and anxiety. Burnout was reported by 40% of staff, and 28% described experiencing long-term stress or anxiety. Leadership at the Royal College warned that the deteriorating conditions could have “devastating” consequences for the healthcare workforce if left unaddressed.
Historical incident data underscores the scale of the problem. Records from 212 NHS trusts in England documented more than 295,000 incidents of physical violence and aggression by patients against staff between 2022 and 2025. Violent incidents—ranging from threats to actual assaults—increased from 91,175 in 2022-23 to 104,079 in 2024-25, representing approximately 285 reported cases daily in the most recent year.
Government officials stated that violence and abuse toward NHS staff are unacceptable and pledged enforcement of newly introduced NHS staff standards aimed at preventing and reducing such incidents across healthcare facilities.
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