Patients or family members who attack doctors will be more likely to be prosecuted in future.
Guidance issued by the Crown Prosecution Service has been broadened to include violence against “a health or social welfare professional” as a trigger for prosecution.
The code gives guidance to prosecutors on the principles to be applied when making decisions about prosecutions. Previously it gave limited specific examples of victims of offences who “served the public”, citing only nurses, police and prison officers.
Richard Hampton, head of NHS Security Management Service, said: “This effectively signals to prosecutors across England and Wales that an offence against anybody providing NHS services, including ambulance workers, is to be viewed with particular concern.
“This will in time lead to more prosecutions of offences against NHS staff and, in turn, more convictions.”
Read more about the full code.
Tags: Violence
