NHS Protect, with the personal safety charity the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, presented awards to the NHS category winners of the National Personal Safety Awards 2014. The London ceremony was hosted by TV presenter and former detective Jacqui Hames.
At the event at BMA House in Tavistock Square, on Monday, October 13, winners were honoured for their work and dedication in improving personal safety in their workplaces. Speakers at the awards were Rachel Griffin, Director of the Suzy Lamplugh Trust and Sue Frith, Managing Director of NHS Protect.
In the awards categories supported by NHS Protect, The NHS Protect Award for Keeping Staff Safe at Work went to Dennis Hunt, Health, Safety and Security Manager of the Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust. He was recognised by the judges for his determination in reducing violence, and improving staff safety in his trust.
Also nominated in that category were Lisa Corbridge – Security and Emergency Resilience Specialist, Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; and Jill Telford – Lone Worker Device Co-ordinator, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust.
And the NHS Protect Award for Contribution to Lone Worker Protection went to Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust. That trust was recognised by judges for their policy work to reduce the risk of violence and aggression for lone workers, as well as a risk assessment process.
Sue Frith, Managing Director of NHS Protect, said: “Congratulations to all of those recognised at the National Personal Safety Awards. Health service workers should not be at risk simply because the nature of their job means that they work alone. NHS Protect will continue to support and collaborate with NHS staff, who do so much to highlight the importance of personal safety at work.”
And Rachel Griffin, pictured, Director of the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, said: “I was delighted that for another year we were able to celebrate the fantastic work of individuals and organisations that are putting personal safety first. Not only are the awards a celebration but they also provide an opportunity for everyone to learn from each other, share best practice and build their networks. We still have a long way to go in ensuring that personal safety becomes common practice. However, it is important that we take time to celebrate the hard work of so many people and I am already excited for next year’s awards.”
Visit: http://www.suzylamplugh.org/2014/09/national-personal-safety-awards-2014/
For more on NHS Protect visit http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/Protect.aspx
Meanwhile a new agreement to help protect nurses, doctors, ambulance crews and other NHS staff from assault and abuse in the North West was signed recently.
The Service Level Agreement (SLA) between the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) North West and NHS Protect commits both to working together to ensure that people who attack NHS staff are prosecuted, where appropriate. It helps implement the national joint working agreement between the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), the CPS and NHS Protect.
The North West SLA covering Cumbria, Lancashire and Greater Manchester aims to strengthen the prosecution process, recognising that there is a strong public interest in prosecuting those who assault NHS staff or commit other offences that disrupt the provision of NHS services to the public.
John Mytton, North West Area Security Management Specialist for NHS Protect, said “Both CPS North West and NHS Protect have worked hard to reach this point. We will continue to support health bodies to ensure that all incidents of violence and aggression against staff are addressed and appropriate sanctions are brought where necessary. This will help and improve the confidence and wellbeing of those who work in the national health service.”
And Ian Rushton, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West said: “Violence and abuse against NHS staff while they are working to protect and help the public is unacceptable, and we are committed to working with the NHS and police to bring offenders before the courts wherever possible. This agreement which will operate across the North West will help the NHS and the Crown Prosecution Service to work more closely together at a local level when incidents of violence and abuse occur. Together we aim to bring the strongest possible action against those who threaten and assault NHS staff in the course of their work.”
‘Not Alone’: A guide for the better protection of lone workers in the NHS, is designed to assist NHS organisations develop local policies and procedures to assess and minimise the risks faced by those that work alone, and meet their health and safety responsibilities in relation to lone working. Read at: http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/Documents/SecurityManagement/Lone_Working_Guidance_final.pdf
