Increasing Violence Against Hospital Staff: A Growing Concern

Healthcare professionals are increasingly becoming victims of violence in the workplace. Recent statistics from the Health Ministry in Wiesbaden revealed that in the past year, 189 hospital staff members in Hesse experienced physical assaults. This alarming figure includes 34 doctors and 155 nurses.

Data collected for this report focused on violent crimes occurring within clinical settings, specifically targeting medical personnel. The statistics encompass acts against life, bodily integrity, and the freedom of healthcare workers. A survey conducted by the Kassenärztliche Vereinigung (KBV) indicated that approximately 80% of practicing physicians reported experiencing verbal abuse in the previous year.

According to a study by the German Hospital Institute, 73% of hospitals noted an increase in violent incidents over the past five years, with 53% reporting a moderate rise and 20% observing a significant escalation. Urban areas are particularly affected, experiencing higher rates of reported incidents compared to rural regions.

In 2023, the number of assaults was slightly higher, with 173 nurses and 33 doctors reporting violent attacks, as per the Health Ministry's data. The ministry highlighted that metropolitan areas with multiple hospitals experienced a disproportionate number of these cases compared to rural locations.

Healthcare workers face the dual challenge of saving lives while also having to protect their own. The rise in violence against doctors is a pressing issue. In response to the increasing violence within hospitals, some facilities have begun to implement self-defense training for their medical staff.

The Health Ministry condemned the violence against healthcare workers, emergency responders, and other staff in hospitals, emphasizing the need for effective safety measures tailored to each facility. Potential strategies include coordination with local law enforcement, establishing security services within hospitals, making infrastructural changes, and installing panic buttons.

"The reported numbers indicate that violence against healthcare workers is not an isolated incident but a systemic problem--especially in Hesse's hospitals," stated a representative from the Hessian Hospital Association, noting that many incidents may go unreported, leading to a suspected higher number of occurrences.

Some hospitals have introduced protective measures that have shown to be effective in specific instances, including security checkpoints, video surveillance, and staff training programs. However, the frequency of attacks remains high, with no sign of improvement in the situation. Contributing factors include staffing shortages, increased workload, rising aggression, and frustration within segments of society.

Violence typically arises from several triggers, including long wait times in emergency departments, language barriers, substance abuse issues, and conflicts with visitors. Notably, emergency departments, psychiatric wards, and staff working night shifts are among the most affected.

The State Medical Association has developed a digital reporting system for healthcare personnel to document incidents of violence against them. Preliminary data suggests that aggression towards medical staff has increased since the collection began in 2019, with a noticeable rise during the COVID-19 pandemic. The majority of reports have originated from primary care settings, followed by psychiatry and psychotherapy.