Get to safety and call for help. Call 999 if anyone is in immediate danger. Report every incident through your employer's system, including verbal abuse, and ask for a debrief and a risk review. In England and Wales, assaulting someone who provides NHS health services face to face counts as an assault on an emergency worker, with a maximum sentence of two years in prison for common assault.
Key facts
- Assaults on emergency workers
- The Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018 covers people employed or engaged to provide NHS health services face to face in England and Wales. Since 2022 the maximum sentence for common assault on an emergency worker is two years.
- Employer duty
- Employers must assess the risk of violence to staff and put controls in place under health and safety law.
- RIDDOR
- In Great Britain, employers must report physical violence at work which leaves a worker unable to do normal work for more than 7 days.
- Sexual harassment
- Since 26 October 2024, employers in Great Britain must take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment of staff, including harassment by patients and the public.
During an incident
- Move to a safe place and keep an exit clear.
- Use the panic alarm, call for colleagues or security, and call 999 if anyone is in immediate danger.
- Use de-escalation if you are trained and the situation allows. Do not restrain anyone unless you are trained and restraint is necessary.
- In a community pharmacy or a home visit, leave the premises if you feel unsafe and follow the lone working policy.
Straight after
- Get any injury checked and recorded, at the emergency department or by occupational health.
- Report the incident through your employer's system on the same day. Include the exact words used, any threats, and the names of witnesses.
- Decide on police involvement. You can report to the police yourself. Your employer should support you, including with statements and court dates.
- Ask for a debrief with your manager or team.
- Keep your own brief note of what happened, without other patients' details.
Report verbal abuse too. Repeated low-level abuse is often the warning sign before violence, and reports help employers justify changes. Racist, homophobic or other hate-based abuse can be reported to the police as a hate incident.
Changes to ask for
After an incident, ask your manager for a risk review. Options include:
- A warning marker or alert on the patient's record, under local policy.
- Two staff for future appointments, or a chaperone.
- Screens, panic buttons, CCTV or a safer room layout.
- A warning letter or an acceptable behaviour agreement.
- Changes to lone working for community staff and late-closing pharmacies.
In England, a GP practice can ask for the immediate removal of a patient who has been violent or threatening, after reporting the incident to the police. The patient then receives care through a Special Allocation Scheme. NHS-funded providers in England also follow NHS England's violence prevention and reduction standard.
The effect on you
Shock, anger, poor sleep and dread before the next shift are common after abuse or assault. Many people recover over a few weeks with support. If flashbacks, nightmares or avoidance last longer than a month, ask your GP about assessment for post-traumatic stress. Effective talking treatments exist through the NHS. Ask occupational health about a phased return or a temporary change of base if going back to the same setting feels unmanageable. Our guide on returning to work can help.
Support organisations
BMA wellbeing services
Counselling and peer support for doctors and medical students.
The main wellbeing services have their own access rules. Additional member services may require membership.
RCN member support
A starting point for nursing members seeking advice and support.
Membership and service-specific criteria apply. Read the current service information.
Psychiatrists' Support Service
Peer support for psychiatrists facing personal or work-related difficulties.
For psychiatrists. Read the provider's confidentiality policy and professional safety exceptions.
GLADD
A community representing LGBTQ+ doctors, dentists and medical and dental students.
Check membership and event information. The organisation does not provide medical or dental advice.
Related guides
- Bullying and harassment
- Workload and understaffing
- Professional boundaries
- Workplace rights and wellbeing
Common questions
Should I report verbal abuse from a patient?
Yes. Report verbal abuse through your employer's incident system as well as physical violence. Reports build the evidence for safety changes and warning markers.
Is assaulting an NHS worker a specific offence?
In England and Wales, assault on a person providing NHS health services face to face is covered by the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018. The maximum sentence for common assault is two years.
Can a GP practice remove a violent patient?
Yes. In England a practice can ask for immediate removal of a patient who has been violent or threatening, once the incident is reported to the police. The patient then gets care through a Special Allocation Scheme.
What support is there after an assault at work?
Ask your employer for a debrief and occupational health support. See your GP if symptoms last more than a month, and use the profession support services listed on this page.