Level of discrimination experienced by NHS staff in England reached five year high in 2024

The NHS workforce in England is in a “fragile” state, with staff facing more violent attacks, discrimination, and unwanted sexual behaviour, new figures show.

NHS leaders and analysts said action was needed to stamp out “unacceptable” trends highlighted in the latest NHS staff survey for 2024.1

Nearly three quarters of a million people (744 358) took part in the survey, the highest figure recorded in its 20 year history. The response rate was 50%, up from 48% in 2023.

One in seven respondents (14.38%) experienced physical violence from patients, their relatives, or other members of the public in 2024, up from 13.88% in 2023 but below the record levels seen …