Violence against Doctors and their staff

The NHS zero tolerance zone is a nationwide campaign to stop violence against staff working in the NHS.

The campaign has been initiated by the Secretary of State for Health, and has the full support of the home secretary, the Lord chancellor and the Attorney General. Violence means any incident where Doctors or their staff are abused, threatened or assaulted in circumstances arising out of their work, involving explicit challenge to their safety, well being or health.

Staff working in the NHS do so to care for others. They do not go to work to be victims of violence. Aggressive, violent and threatening behaviour does not go with the job and will not be tolerated. Violence against staff working in the NHS is a crime and employers will work with the police locally to prevent it. Individuals behaving violently towards staff will be reported to the police.

Those few patients in Hertfordshire who are violent or abusive to Doctors or their staff will in future be treated only at the secure Treatment Scheme run by the local health service in Luton.  Any patient who is violent or abusive to the staff will be notified in writing of their removal from the practice list and the reason why.

Zero tolerance means ridding the NHS of intimidation and violence.