Home

  • Home
    • » e-Newsletters

British hospital fines unruly patients, visitors

Healthcare Security Weekly, February 12, 2007

Here's a new approach to the problem of disruptive patients and visitors in hospital emergency rooms. The Royal Bolton Hospital in Greater Manchester, England has begun issuing on-the-spot fines to troublemakers in the facility's accident and emergency (A&E) ward, according to the BBC News.

A three-month pilot program to curb misbehavior will be extended indefinitely as the plan was deemed a success by hospital bosses. The program followed a rise in incidents of staff being sworn and spat at, threatened, or attacked, BBC News reported. The program is the first of its kind in England, where a rise in anti-social behavior towards A&E staff has been reported across the country.

The deterrent of an £80 fine (about $155) is changing the culture of the A&E department, police and staff said. Patients and visitors are now aware that such behavior will not be tolerated in the hospital.

Most Popular