NHS workers in Rotherham have suffered hundreds of incidents of abuse and assaults, with some cases involving weapons, according to new figures. The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust confirmed the scale of the problem, which has prompted new safety measures to protect frontline staff.
Between December 2023 and July 2025, staff reported 270 physical assaults, 166 incidents of verbal abuse, and 15 racial incidents. In addition, there were six cases of sexual physical abuse and nine incidents of sexual verbal abuse. Five of the cases involved a weapon.
The abuse was recorded across hospital wards, emergency care centres, and community services. The highest number of reports came from general medicine, followed by emergency care.
Trust Response and Safety Measures
Trust bosses described the issue as “extremely serious” and confirmed new measures have been introduced, including lightweight body-worn cameras for staff. Bob Kirton, managing director of the trust and chair of its violence reduction working group, stressed that nobody should feel unsafe while at work.
“We are committed to tackling any deliberate abuse of our colleagues and challenging it with positive action,” he said.
Other initiatives include stronger warning and banning letters, alongside warning markers on patient records to flag individuals with a history of abuse.
Police Involvement and Reporting Improvements
The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust is working closely with South Yorkshire Police, which has taken enforcement action in some cases, including prosecutions. While the new measures have not eliminated abuse, Kirton said the trust had seen a 5% rise in staff reporting incidents during the 2024 staff survey, which he viewed as a sign that employees feel more confident to speak out.
