An accident and emergency (A&E) nurse at St Thomas' Hospital in London has described the increasingly difficult environment faced by emergency department staff, saying repeated incidents of violence, threats and abuse have left some workers feeling unsafe at work.
Jess Turnbull, 35, an A&E sister at the hospital in Waterloo, said she and her colleagues have been punched, scratched and kicked while working. She also recalled an incident in which staff were chased with knives in the department.
Her account comes as new research from the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) highlights the scale and frequency of violence and aggression experienced by emergency department staff across the UK.
A&E Staff Report Widespread Violence and Abuse
The RCEM survey of 2,126 emergency department staff found that 96% had experienced violence or aggression from patients or members of the public. Some 73% said they experienced such incidents either weekly or daily.
Around two-thirds of respondents said incidents of violence or aggression involved discrimination, including racial abuse and other forms of discriminatory behaviour. Only 4% said they always felt safe working in emergency departments.
RCEM has launched its Safe to Care campaign in response to the findings, calling for stronger action to protect healthcare workers and make emergency departments safer places to work.
For Turnbull, the figures reflect experiences she has witnessed throughout her career.
'I've been punched, scratched and kicked,' she told the Mirror. She described colleagues suffering serious injuries and recalled an incident in which nurses were chased outside the department by a man carrying a blade.
She said everyday objects, including furniture and fire extinguishers, could also become weapons during violent incidents.
One particularly upsetting case involved a member of staff who suffered a broken jaw. Turnbull described the colleague as a gentle person who was known for being able to calm difficult situations.
She said the attack was particularly distressing because it happened unexpectedly and was witnessed by other members of staff.
'It's Definitely Worse Than It's Ever Been'
Turnbull, who has worked as a nurse for 10 years and in A&E for nine, said she believed the atmosphere had changed significantly during her career.
'It's definitely worse than it's ever been,' she said, adding that staff had become 'quite worn down' by violence, threats and verbal abuse.
She also said people were leaving emergency medicine and that violence was one of the reasons some staff decided to move on.
However, the RCEM research does not establish that violence is the sole reason healthcare workers leave the NHS or emergency medicine.
RCEM president Dr Ian Higginson said violence and aggression were contributing to some emergency department workers seriously questioning whether they wanted to remain in emergency medicine or healthcare more broadly.
The survey also identified wider pressures that can contribute to tension in emergency departments. Long waiting times were cited by 90% of respondents, while 85% highlighted overcrowding. Staff shortages and corridor care were each identified by 65%.
Physical Assaults Rise at Guy's and St Thomas'
The concerns raised by Turnbull come as Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust reports a significant increase in physical assaults against its staff.
Across Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, 669 physical assaults against staff were reported in 2025/26.
That equates to almost two reported physical assaults against staff each day across the trust.
In response, the trust launched its No Excuse for Abuse campaign, highlighting the impact of violence and abusive behaviour on employees.
The campaign addresses a range of behaviour, including verbal abuse, threatening behaviour, physical assaults, sexual threats, racist abuse and the unauthorised recording of staff. The trust says incidents can occur in both clinical and non-clinical settings.
Crystal Akass, chief people officer at Guy's and St Thomas', acknowledged that most patients and visitors treat staff respectfully, but said even isolated incidents of aggression can have a lasting impact on individuals and teams.
The trust's campaign is intended to reinforce that staff have a right to feel safe and protected while carrying out their jobs.
Long Waits and Overcrowding Add to A&E Pressure
Turnbull also described the difficult conditions faced by staff working at the front of A&E, where patients are assessed and triaged while often waiting for treatment.
Long waits can be frustrating for patients and their families, particularly when emergency departments are crowded. However, RCEM has stressed that frontline staff should not be blamed for wider pressures within the health service.
Dr Higginson said long waiting times and overcrowding were among the key factors contributing to aggression towards emergency department staff, but emphasised that these problems were not the fault of frontline workers.
For nurses such as Turnbull, the impact of an angry or threatening encounter can continue even after the immediate incident has ended.
She described struggling to move straight on to the next patient after being threatened, with her heart still racing while she was expected to continue providing care.
She also highlighted verbal abuse, including racist and sexualised comments, as well as threats made against staff after they leave work.
Calls for Stronger Protection for NHS Workers
RCEM has called for emergency departments to become safer workplaces, while the Department of Health and Social Care has said violence, abuse and harassment against NHS staff are unacceptable.
The government published new NHS staff standards in July 2026, including requirements for employers to take action to prevent and reduce violence, aggression and abuse against staff. The standards apply to NHS organisations in England.
The measures form part of wider efforts to improve staff safety and wellbeing and to ensure healthcare workers are properly protected in the workplace.
Meanwhile, Turnbull believes NHS workers need greater support when violent incidents occur, particularly when it comes to ensuring attacks against staff are taken seriously.
She said workers need to know that there will be consequences when they are assaulted or threatened while doing their jobs.
For emergency nurses and other frontline healthcare workers, the issue goes beyond individual incidents. The experiences described by Turnbull, alongside the findings of the RCEM survey, highlight how violence and intimidation have become a serious workplace safety concern.
Emergency department staff continue to care for patients in some of the most pressured parts of the health service. But as Turnbull's experience shows, protecting patients must also mean creating an environment where the people caring for them can feel safe while doing their jobs.
