NHS Security Management Service first for NHS-wide ASBO

The NHS Counter Fraud and Security Management Service has applied the first Anti Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) to cover every part of the NHS, to protect staff and professionals from violence and abuse.  The order, against Norman Hutchins, is unique in being the first ASBO to cover every hospital, GP surgery and any health establishment across England and Wales .

The NHS Security Management Service, with York City Council and North Yorkshire Police, worked in close partnership to bring the order against 53-year-old Hutchins. The interim order will prevent Mr. Hutchins from entering any medical centres, including hospitals, dentists, walk-in centres, GPs or emergency doctors in England and Wales unless under strictly controlled conditions and with prior permission.

York Magistrates granted the interim order, which also prevents Mr. Hutchins from contacting establishments in order to obtain medical masks, gowns or medical related clothing, earlier today (2nd June).

In 47 incidents over the last five months, Hutchins, a resident of York , had caused harassment, alarm and distress to NHS staff when attempting to obtain gowns and surgical masks in person or on the phone. He` has also been violently aggressive, has assaulted staff and has carried a knife.

Jim Gee, Chief Executive of the NHS Security Management Service said:

"This is a case where there have been 47 incidents since January where the Defendant has caused alarm, harassment and distress to NHS staff. More than 30 NHS organisations have tried to respond locally to this problem by obtaining civil injunctions concerning their own premises, however, the Defendant has simply moved on to another part of the NHS. That is why the NHS Security Management Service has coordinated action to obtain the NHS's first ever national Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO). In cases like this one, the NHS needs a national response if we are to properly protect staff from violence and abuse."

Bill Darling, Chair of the NHS SMS said:

"It is very sad that this sort of action is necessary, but with the right to free healthcare from the NHS, there also comes responsibilities. The vast majority of patients and members of the public want to protect the NHS and its ability to provide patient care. Unfortunately, there is a minority who do not respect the NHS or the dedicated staff who work for it. It's very simple really, we need to protect the NHS so that it can protect the public's health."

Notes

1. In December 2003, Health Secretary John Reid announced the first ever NHS Security Management Strategy to make the NHS a safer and more secure place to work.

2. As part of the strategy a series of practical steps to tackle violence against NHS staff were developed. These include:

* Streamlined, national, IT based reporting systems for physical and non-physical assaults introduced in November 2003. The systems will have the ability to track cases from report to conclusion, allowing intervention, and importantly, feedback to the person assaulted;

* A Legal Protection Unit to work with the police and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to increase the number of prosecutions against those who assault NHS staff from November.

* The training of Local Security Management Specialists (LSMS) in each health body from April 2004;

* Pending the training of the LSMS, highly trained and professional counter fraud specialists will investigate cases of physical assault, where these have not been pursued by the police or the CPS;

* The trial of new hi-tech device. NHS staff can use the new piece of technology, which resembles an ordinary ID card holder, to raise the alarm when they are feeling threatened. By pressing a button on the back of the device they will be able to call for help. The latest mobile technology will pin-point the location of the nurse and will record the incident so that evidence can be collected to aid prosecutions.

3. The NHS Security Management Service (SMS) is part of the NHS Counter Fraud and Security Management Service (CFSMS) which from April 2003 took full responsibility for all policy and operational matters relating to the management of security and for countering fraud in the NHS.

4. All enquiries should be made to Darren Aldrich or Matthew Willis at the NHS Counter Fraud and Security Management Service press office on 020 7895 4523/4524 or at Darren.Aldrich@cfsms.nhs.uk or Matthew.Willis@cfsms.nhs.uk

(3/6/04)