Lindsey Scott, a sister at Royal Glamorgan Hospital A&E department with Sergeant Chris Wilkins

RUGBY fans and Six Nations revellers are being warned they face prosecution if they are verbally or physically abusive to NHS staff.

A joint campaign by South Wales Police and Cwm Taf Health Board has been launched to reinforce the zero tolerance message as the annual Six Nations contest reaches its climax.

New posters, which urge healthcare staff to report any violent, abusive or threatening incidents, will be on display in all hospital A&E departments and minor injury units in Merthyr Tydfil and Rhondda Cynon Taf.

South Wales Police will also be holding a series of road shows in Cwm Taf’s hospitals as part of the campaign.

Dave Lewis, Cwm Taf Health Board’s violence and aggression case manager, said: “Our staff do not come to work to be insulted, abused or assaulted – they come to work to care for others when they need help.

“We take any attacks or threats towards our staff very seriously. We encourage our staff to report all incidents and we will prosecute those who are responsible for abusing them.”

The new campaign follows the successful prosecution of an 18-year-old patient who had been verbally and physically abusive to NHS staff.

The teenager was issued with a fixed penalty notice by Pontypridd Magistrates’ Court, after she verbally abused doctors and nursing staff at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital’s A&E department in January.

Some of the abuse took place in the busy waiting area where sick and injured patients and children were waiting to be seen. The young woman pleaded guilty to a public order offence.
Superintendent Simon Clarke, of South Wales Police, said: “Our frontline of paramedics, nurses, doctors and other hospital staff must be protected in the best possible way.
“Day in, day out, they work extremely hard to help people, yet many are exposed to physical and verbal abuse at the hands of patients.
“This won’t be tolerated by Cwm Taf Health Board or by South Wales Police.”

Over the course of the last 20 months Cwm Taf Health Board has successfully prosecuted 11 people for abusive, aggressive or threatening behaviour towards NHS staff.