Борьба с насилием: в больницах Оксфорда запущена новая операция для защиты медперсонала

A hospital trust has launched a new campaign to tackle rising violence and abuse against staff. Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) has joined forces with Thames Valley Police to introduce Operation Cavell, a national scheme designed to improve protections for healthcare workers, boost conviction rates, and provide better support to victims. Under the scheme, all incidents of assault or hate crime against OUH staff will be reviewed by senior police officers, and specialist investigators trained in healthcare environments will handle cases. Yvonne Christley, chief nursing officer at Oxford University Hospitals, said: "Our staff come to work to care for people, and they should be able to do that safely. Read more 'Sad' Clarkson's Farm star quits career after leaving hit show Westgate Oxford rooftop restaurants offering discounts Rare 50p coin collection selling for £170,000 in UK "Being shouted at or physically attacked is not part of the job, and it never has been. "I am sorry that any of our colleagues have experienced this." Ms Christley said the scheme would offer 'stronger support' to staff following an incident. She said: "Colleagues who report will be supported through the process rather than left to manage it on their own, and Thames Valley Police will review every report. "Support is there whether or not someone chooses to involve the police, but support is not the answer on its own. "The measure of Operation Cavell will be fewer incidents, not better recovery from them. "Our staff should not have to be resilient about violence and abuse at work, and the responsibility sits with the people who choose to behave this way, not with the colleagues on the receiving end. "I hope this gives people the confidence to come forward." Operation Cavell will run in support of OUH’s 'No Excuses' campaign, which emphasises the Trust’s stance on violence and aggressive behaviour towards its staff. National data shows a growing problem, with one in seven healthcare workers reporting physical violence from patients, relatives, or the public in 2024. Detective Chief Inspector Stuart May from Thames Valley Police said: "NHS staff provide an essential service to our communities and deserve to feel safe while carrying out their work. "We want to actively encourage OUH staff to report incidents and feel safe in the knowledge that we will take action. "Crimes against our hardworking NHS colleagues take many forms, including verbal abuse and serious physical violence. "Through Operation Cavell, our officers will investigate incidents thoroughly, support victims, and work closely with OUH to ensure offenders are held accountable where appropriate." DCI May said the campaign would also help police identify patterns of behaviour and repeat offenders. He said Operation Cavell would 'underscore our commitment to bringing offenders to justice' and protecting healthcare staff.