NHS staff face ‘national emergency’ as patient violence hits 285 incidents a day

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 6 min read 100% complete by David Batty and Anna BawdenJanuary 10, 2026 at 08:00 AM

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long article 6 min

A Guardian investigation reveals a surge in violence against NHS staff in England, with over 295,000 incidents of physical violence and aggression recorded between 2022 and 2025 across 212 NHS trusts. The number of daily reported cases rose to approximately 285 in the most recent year. There has also been a significant increase in reported sexual assaults and harassment, with nearly 24,000 incidents in the past three years. Healthcare unions warn of a spike in assaults, with staff reporting attacks involving weapons and property damage. The British Medical Association attributes the rise to patient anger over waiting times, distrust in medicine, and increased racism.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Emma Runswick 40% Mental Health Act 40% The Guardian 40% Merseyside police 50% Newton community hospital 50% Merseyside ×260% British Medical Association (BMA) 60% England 60% Nicola Ranger ×270% Royal College of Nursing (RCN) 70% NHS ×390%

Keywords

nhs staff violence 100% patient violence 90% sexual assault 80% aggression 70% national emergency 60% healthcare workers 60% nhs trusts 50% mental health act 40% workplace safety 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Very Negative

Score: -0.80

Source Transparency

Source

The Guardian - World News

Political Lean

Center-Left (-0.40)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

Geographic Perspective

England

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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nhs staff violence patient violence sexual assault aggression national emergency healthcare workers nhs trusts mental health act workplace safety

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