ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of the national NHS perspective. It focuses on actions taken at organisational and individual level. The chapter draws on actions that could/should have been taken at organisational and individual level. The Healthcare Commission NHS National Staff Survey for England tested staff opinion in the NHS over a variety of areas, reporting initially early in 2004 and for a second time early in 2005. In the survey, staff were asked if they had experienced physical violence, harassment, bullying or abuse from patients, clients, relatives, managers/supervisors or colleagues in the last 12 months. Results from the two surveys are broadly similar. A large primary community trust received the results of the 2004 NHS national staff survey early in 2005 and was disturbed to find that 16% of their responding staff had said they had experienced harassment, bullying or abuse from staff in the previous 12 months.
