Hospital staff reluctant to report emergency dept abuse - study

Christchurch Hospital emergency department staff say they are spat at, pinched, slapped and threatened at least 100 times each month. A survey recorded more the incidents of physical and verbal abuse during a one month period at the hospital. It says more incidents of abuse are occurring but staff are less inclined to report them as they feel it's 'part of the job'. But, as Nita Blake-Persen reports, the abuse isn't limited to one District Health Board.