Attacks on health workers at the city’s hospital and its health trust have more than doubled in the last two years.
And for the first time it shows attacks involving weapons by patients against doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers shows a shocking 23 attacks so far this year which included a weapon being involved.
The shocking figures are part of a report to the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s board which is due to meet during Thursday (4 December) to discuss a range of issues related to the hospital.
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On the agenda will be the safety of NHS workers who are battling to help keep patients safe but face increasing aggression and attacks while trying to do their job at Royal Preston Hospital, Chorley Hospital and while out in the community.
The figures show 59 assaults on staff at the Trust in 2023 and this has jumped to 131 in 2025 – an increase of 122 per cent.
Health chiefs say they have a ‘zero-tolerance’ to attacks on staff with 16 behaviours listed on its website that it finds unacceptable from patients.
A spokesperson for the Trust told Blog Preston: “We strive to always deliver excellent care with compassion and work hard to create an environment of safety, mutual care, respect and understanding.
“We understand that being in a hospital environment can cause anxiety, distress and in some cases anger but this should not be directed towards our colleagues.
“The Trust takes violence and aggression against its staff extremely seriously and has a comprehensive incident support service available to colleagues.
“Our colleagues go above and beyond every day to provide care to our communities and we have an extensive range of security measures in place to ensure they feel safe in the workplace.
“The Trust continues to review and strengthen its security management systems in line with NHS Security Management Standards which aim to prevent physical and psychological harm to staff, improve confidence in managing aggression, and ensure lawful and proportionate responses to security threats.”
UNISON deputy head of health Alan Lofthouse told Blog Preston: “All NHS workers must be able to look after patients without fear of violence. Nurses, paramedics, healthcare assistants and other staff deserve safe working conditions.
“Senior managers and employers must work with unions, staff and the public to make workplaces safer.
“Pressures on the NHS mean employees are working in an ever more stressful environment, and the threat of attack or abuse is rising. That needs to be tackled immediately to stop workers leaving essential roles.
“Better systems for reporting and investigating incidents are needed to help focus on what should be done to reduce violent attacks and procedures put in place to deal with them.”
The safety of staff will be considered alongside the growing concern about the financial position of the Trust which is facing special measures from national NHS chiefs if it does not turnaround a huge financial deficit.
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