VIOLENT attacks on NHS staff have been ignored by the government for too long, Labour said today as figures revealed almost 200 health service workers are assaulted every day.

The latest staff survey from the Department of Health and Social Care shows that 15.2 per cent have experienced physical violence while doing their job, the highest proportion in five years.

In response, Health Secretary Matt Hancock launched the NHS Violence Reduction Strategy to help reduce assaults.

He vowed to adopt a zero-tolerance approach towards those who harm staff, with legislation to double the sentence for assaults on emergency workers from six months to a year.

Staff will also be given better training to deal with violent situations and anyone found guilty of assaulting health workers will face speedy prosecution.

At a speech to the Royal College of Nursing, Mr Hancock said: “NHS staff dedicate their lives to protecting and caring for us in our times of greatest need and for any of them to be subject to aggression or violence is completely unacceptable.”

However, Labour shadow health minister Justin Madders accused Mr Hancock of being slow to address the crisis.

“Nobody should feel unsafe at work and it is wholly unacceptable that almost 200 assaults occur on NHS staff every day,” he said.

“Labour has already backed new legislation to give our brave NHS and emergency workers the protection they deserve, whereas the government last year scrapped NHS Protect, which collated crucial data on assaults on NHS staff and prosecuted offenders.

“With many NHS staff at risk from assault and feeling they cannot deliver safe patient care because of the workforce crisis created by this government, much more needs to be done to improve working conditions.

“NHS staff care for us in our most vulnerable state. Their safety must be our utmost priority.”

Unison head of health Sara Gorton stressed: “No-one should be abused, threatened or attacked at work, especially when all they’re trying to do is help people.

“Anyone who threatens or abuses NHS staff should be prosecuted under the new law protecting healthcare workers.”

Royal College of Nursing national officer Kim Sunley added: “Nurses and healthcare workers understand their roles aren’t risk-free, but to many it still seems as if the threat of physical violence is a daily reality.”