OUH hosts second Violence Prevention and Reduction Summit

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH) has hosted its second Violence Prevention and Reduction Summit, bringing together NHS colleagues, Thames Valley Police, mental health professionals, and partners from across the country to share best practice in tackling violence and aggression towards NHS and other public sector staff.

The event was held in Oxford on Thursday 22 October and focused on how organisations can work together to protect staff and improve safety for all.

Violence and aggression towards staff is a growing challenge across the health and care sector. The summit offered a valuable opportunity for open discussion and shared learning on how to prevent and reduce it.

Chief Nursing Officer Yvonne Christley opened the event with a clear message: “We know the trauma that violence and aggression causes our staff, and the impact it has on wellbeing, our organisation, and our ability to deliver safe care to our patients and communities.”

Delegates heard from OUH teams leading the way in this area, including a presentation on the Trust’s award-winning No Excuses campaign, which raises awareness of the impact of violence on NHS staff. Other sessions explored the scale and impact of violence on the nursing workforce, how technology can support prevention and reduction, and trauma-informed approaches.

Yvonne said: “The summit was an exceptional opportunity to come together with health and public sector colleagues to discuss this incredibly serious issue.

“As a Board, we are deeply committed to tackling violence and aggression towards our staff. We need to be able to deliver safe care and provide safe environments for everybody: our staff, our patients, and their families.”

Feedback on the event included:

- Congratulations again for putting on such an informative event and providing an important opportunity to network

- This was a fantastic event with lots of important knowledge sharing, networking, and opportunities for collaborative work across regions. Thanks to your hard work and all the speakers. Many congratulations

The event was sponsored by Reveal Media, the suppliers of OUH’s body worn camera technology.