Physical assaults on staff at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust have increased by 60% year-on-year, according to a recent NHS survey. The trust, which includes five London hospitals, recorded 669 reported cases of physical assaults between 2025 and 2026, up from 418 in the previous year.
This rise equates to almost two incidents of physical abuse against staff each day. Aggressive and abusive behaviour towards clinical and administrative staff also increased by 23%, amounting to more than eight incidents daily.
Jess Turnbull, a senior nurse at St Thomas' Hospital, described experiences of being punched, scratched, and kicked. She also mentioned a colleague having their jaw broken and people being chased with knives in the A&E department. Ike Obi, head of security at St Thomas' Hospital, reported that security staff also face regular physical and verbal abuse, with one staff member losing a finger after being bitten by an aggressive patient.
In response to the growing number of assaults, the NHS trust has launched a poster campaign across its hospitals. Crystal Akass, chief people officer at the trust, stated that the campaign aims to send a clear message that violent and abusive behaviour against staff and other patients is unacceptable.