Staff abuse report

WQ.172/2025

WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES

BY DEPUTY M.B. ANDREWS OF ST HELIER NORTH

QUESTION SUBMITTED ON MONDAY 14th APRIL 2025

ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON WEDNESDAY 23rd APRIL 2025

Question

"In relation to incidents of assault on Health and Care Jersey staff, will the Minister state, for each of the last five years –

1. the number of verbal assaults;
2. the number of physical assaults;
3. the number of racially-motivated assaults; and
4. how many assaults resulted in a prosecution, and, of those, how many led to a conviction?"

Answer

The information above has been drawn from our electronic incident recording system, which has undergone a number of changes between 2020 and 2024. As a result, we are aware that the information has some data quality limitations, particularly in relation to reporting of verbal assaults.

The information provided below relates to all Health & Care Jersey services, including inpatient mental health services (which, for example, accounted for 45% of verbal abuse and 72% of physical incidents / assaults in the year 2023)

The data for 2020 and 2021 must be considered in the context of reduced patient numbers, owing to pandemic restrictions and significantly reduced clinical activity.

Increased reporting of incidents may also be attributed to focused efforts within HCJ to increase awareness and increase reporting of such incidents, including an anti –racism campaign in 2024.

(d) how many assaults resulted in a prosecution, and, of those, how many led to a conviction?"

HCJ are unable to provide information on the number of assaults that resulted in prosecution and conviction, as we do not hold that data. We are able to report on the number of the reported incidents above that resulted in the police being called (as below). HCJ work closely with the States of Jersey Police with regard to the prevention and management of threatening behaviours, violence and aggression towards our staff.