Over 3,400 harmful incidents against staff and patients in acute hospitals last year

New data from the HSE confirms more than nine episodes a day on average occurred during 2023, including physical, verbal, and sexual assaults on employees. Picture: Denis Minihane

There were 3,401 harmful incidents against staff and patients reported across the country’s acute hospitals last year, it has emerged.

New data from the HSE confirms more than nine episodes a day on average occurred during the whole of 2023, including all physical, verbal, and sexual assaults on employees.

There were no extreme incidents resulting in death or incapacitation. A major incident such as a serious injury was recorded in 0.03% of cases.

However, a total of 126 “moderate” incidents occurred where a significant injury such as a fracture happened and medical attention was required.

These are classed as violent or aggressive acts and are reported to gardaí.

The victim had to have a three- to eight-day hospital stay on average to recuperate.

There were 388 minor incidents where first aid treatment was required for the injury or illness.

The HSE said an incident can be regarded as a harmful incident, an adverse event, a no-harm incident, a near miss, a dangerous occurrence, or a complaint.

It said: “Ensuring the safety of employees and service users is a priority concern for the HSE. 

"The HSE is committed to a safe environment within which to work or to be treated.

“We have long been proactive in encouraging staff to report all incidents and this is enshrined in the Corporate Safety Statement, Violence and Aggression policy and Incident Management Framework. 

"In 2015 the National Incident Management System was introduced by the State Claims Agency. This requires all incidents to be reported through a national centralised system and will ultimately improve the quality of the data.”

The health authority said it encourages staff to report all “near misses” and incidents — even those that do not result in harm.

“Hence the number of incident reports should not be considered as indicative of a level of harm. There can also be multiple reports relating to the same incident.”

A further 430 incidents were reported in the country’s accident and emergency departments. There were 16 moderate, 34 minor, and 380 negligible incidents.