A QUARTER of staff in one part of the NHS in Southampton have suffered bullying or abuse by patients or their relatives over the past 12 months, according to a survey published today by the Healthcare Commission.
In all, 27 per cent of staff at Southampton Primary Care Trust said they had been victims, compared with 20 per cent two years ago. The survey also showed that staff feel their workload is too big.
Julie Redman, associate director of human resources at the trust, said: "The trust is committed to providing a safe and secure workplace for our employees and operates a strict policy against any behaviour that is considered to be threatening or abusive."
Staff at Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the city's three hospitals, fared better than in 2005 with fewer staff suffering from work-related stress in 2006.
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