‘We're People Too’: UHNM launches staff anti abuse campaign

University Hospitals North Midlands (UHNM) is today launching a new campaign to tackle physical and verbal abuse towards NHS staff.
 
‘We’re People Too’ will see messages from staff who have experienced some form of physical or verbal abuse while at work shared across both Royal Stoke University Hospital and County Hospital, Stafford.
 
The campaign is aimed at raising awareness and reinforcing a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of abuse towards UHNM staff, including physical, verbal, racial, and disruptive behaviour.
 
Jane Haire, Chief People Officer at UHNM, said: “Here at UHNM we do not tolerate verbal abuse to staff which prevents them from doing their job or makes them feel intimidated or unsafe and threats of violence or actual violence to any member of staff. 
 
“Our colleagues go above and beyond every day to provide the best care possible for our patients and they deserve to feel safe and respected at work. Racism, verbal and physical abuse or any other forms of discrimination will not be tolerated at UHNM. We must and we will address any kind of discriminatory behaviour within our hospitals, and we will work with our partners, including the police, to do so. 
 
“We’re People Too is designed to recognise and combat violence and aggression towards our staff while reminding patients and visitors that our staff are human too and should be treated how they would like to be treated. 
 
“We are so proud of the wide diversity of our nearly 12,000 staff and we want UHNM to be a great place to work, where our people feel that they belong, thrive and grow in a culture that is empowering, kind and respectful.”
 
Liz Jellyman, UHNM Emergency Department triage nurse said: “It’s so important that we can go to work and feel safe. Any kind of abuse can stop some staff from coming into work because they are fearful and it just shouldn’t happen.”
 
She added: “We try our best to do everything for everybody but people often forget that we’ve all got families at home; families that are waiting for us at the end of a shift and we don’t want to take that stress and angst home with us. We want to do the best by our patients but abuse – both verbal and physical – will not be tolerated.”
 
Anyone can pledge their support to the campaign by using hashtag #WerePeopleToo on social media.