A survey conducted by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine examining conditions for emergency department staff in the United Kingdom found that 73% of respondents reported experiencing violence or aggression on a daily or weekly basis. The survey, which included responses from more than 2,000 workers, also revealed that 96% of staff had encountered some form of abuse from patients or members of the public, and 63% reported experiencing discrimination including racism, sexism, and homophobia.
Emergency department workers attributed the increased violence and aggression to systemic issues within the NHS. Staff identified long waiting times, overcrowding, understaffing, and corridor care—the practice of treating patients in non-clinical spaces due to lack of available beds—as primary factors contributing to hostile environments. Dr. Ian Higginson, president of the RCEM, characterized the situation as appalling and warned that current conditions were causing healthcare professionals to reconsider their careers in emergency medicine and healthcare more broadly.
Psychological impacts on the workforce were notable, with 75% of surveyed staff reporting short-term stress and anxiety, 40% indicating burnout, and 28% experiencing long-term stress or anxiety. Only 4% of those surveyed reported always feeling safe while working in A&E departments.
Historical data supported concerns about escalating violence. Records obtained by the Guardian revealed that physical violence and aggression incidents recorded by 212 NHS trusts in England rose from 91,175 in 2022-23 to 104,079 in 2024-25, representing approximately 285 cases reported daily in the most recent year. Ministers have committed to addressing NHS waiting time targets by 2029, though professional leaders have called for accelerated action following missed targets earlier in the year.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson stated that violence and abuse toward NHS staff is unacceptable and outlined recent staff standards designed to prevent and reduce such incidents.
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