Published on: 12 July 2023

In the past few weeks we've seen an increase in violent and abusive behaviour towards our staff.  The problems have been on the Sunderland Royal Hospital site.  It involves certain patients and visitors who are intoxicated with alcohol or other drugs. 

This is a very big concern for us and as a Trust we are taking a number of actions to protect staff.  This includes: 

  • Increased security on site at Sunderland Royal Hospital with effect from Monday 17 July between 4pm and midnight every day. Improving the CCTV signage we have around the site with over 20 new signs to be put up ASAP. 
  • Extra CCTV cameras to be installed at the main entrance and in current entrance ‘blind spots’.  This will be followed by a wider installation of extra CCTV cameras across the site in due course. 
  • A refreshed red card letter has been written which is much simpler to understand and is now in use with immediate effect.  Anyone who gets a red card will not be allowed to visit anyone in hospital. 
  • We are talking to all local businesses in the immediate vicinity of Sunderland Royal Hospital to ask them not to sell alcohol to anyone who is wearing a patient wristband. 
  • We are working with Northumbria Police to set up an ‘Alcohol Exclusion Zone’ around our sites. This will give the Police extra powers to arrest anyone drinking alcohol on Trust premises.  We are also working with the Police to see if we can get a police presence on site. 

We have set up a task and finish group who are meeting on a weekly basis to drive this work forward and make sure we do all we can to make sure you feel safe at work.  The Police are part of this group.  

We are really sorry that you have had to put up with such unacceptable behaviour.  Please make sure you keep looking out for each other in these awful circumstances.  This should not be something you have to endure when you come to work. 

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