MORE than 1,300 incidents of abuse against staff were recorded by Southampton s biggest hospital, the Daily Echo can reveal. University Hospital Southampton has recorded a total of 1,304 incidents of abuse and assault towards staff by patients in the last four years sparking calls for more police back-up in A&E. An FOI submitted by the Daily Echo asked for the number of incidents of abuse or assault on staff, which revealed that 115 of the incidents resulted in police being called to assist. The most assaults were recorded between 2016 to 2017 where staff reported 359 incidents in one year. Incidents dropped between 2017 to 2018 with 311 reported incidents, followed by 290 incidents the following year between 2018 and 2019.
THESE next few weeks will be the most difficult we have ever faced . This is what Southampton and Hampshire s NHS leaders are warning as they urged residents to stick to Covid-19 rules as the vaccine rollout reaches a vital stage. In an open letter to the local community, they have called for the public to support the NHS by staying at home. And the warning comes as Hampshire hospitals and GP practices are busier than ever before . In the open letter, NHS bosses in Hampshire said: With the development of vaccines we now know we can beat this virus, but we cannot let our guard down. These next few weeks will be the most difficult we have ever faced. The colder weather makes things all the more challenging for us. That is why we are asking for your help.
GCSE and A-level exams in England will be replaced by school-based assessments but a Southampton MP said the decision “will be causing a huge amount of anxiety” to pupils in the city. Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has confirmed that teachers’ estimated grades will be used to replace cancelled GCSEs and A-levels this summer. The news comes as earlier this week the Prime Minister announced the closure of schools and colleges as part of a new national lockdown. Mr Williamson said the government will “put trust in teachers rather than algorithms”. But Southampton Test MP Alan Whitehead raised concerns over the move.