‘Enough is enough’: Open letter calls for end to Covid-related abuse against health workers

An open letter, published today and signed by nine representatives such as the Royal College of Nursing and Royal College of Midwives, warned of the “unacceptable behaviours” health staff had been met with recently, such as when they asked members of the public to wear a mask in hospital settings.

“To those who issue death threats or incite violence against us, we say enough is enough”

Gill Walton

It comes after the chief executive and general secretary of the RCM, Gill Walton, was subjected to a wave of online threats and abuse after she backed a national appeal for pregnant women to get their Covid-19 vaccine. The RCM said midwives and other NHS staff were also facing similar harassment.

Meanwhile, the chief executive of the International Council of Nurses (ICN) revealed to Nursing Times earlier this week that nurses around the world were also receiving verbal attacks in relation to Covid-19 vaccines.

In the early stages of the pandemic last year, there were several reports that nurses were being spat at and labelled “disease spreaders” while out in public.

The letter, published in The Times today, flagged that nurses and colleagues had “already taken personal action”, such as not wearing their uniforms in public, to avoid attacks.

But it said now was the time for the whole NHS workforce to “come together to stand against the vitriol to which we have been subjected”.

Gill Walton

The health leaders said a “small but sinister tide has been rising of people who, at best, seek to undermine the important public health advice we give, and, at worst, incite abuse and violence against us”.

They stressed: “We will no longer tolerate the unacceptable behaviours of those who respond aggressively to polite requests to wear masks in our hospitals and GP practices, or who stand outside hospitals shouting denials of the pandemic’s existence, and who use their platforms to incite violence against us.”

During Covid-19, the support from the majority of the public had helped carry staff through the “most challenging period any of us have ever faced”, noted the letter.

“Today we ask again for their support, to stand with us and call out the hate and abuse by this small aggressive minority,” it added.

"Anti-vaxxers and Covid deniers must be prevented from hounding dedicated NHS staff”

Christina McAnea

Commenting on the letter, signatory Ms Walton said: “Over the past 16 months, health and care workers have been working under incredible stress, with increased demands and less staff because of the pandemic, yet still they have strived to provide the best possible care.”

While recognising that the “vast majority of the public are incredibly grateful for that dedication and commitment”, she said “too many health and care workers have faced abuse from a small but vocal minority, from Covid deniers to anti-vaxxers”.

“Our midwives, doctors, nurses, porters, cleaners, everyone working for the NHS, has the right to safety and respect in the workplace,” added Ms Walton.

“To those who abuse us for simply making polite requests to wear masks or to maintain social distance in hospitals or GP practices, to those who deny the existence of the pandemic or the science of vaccination, to those who issue death threats or incite violence against us, we say enough is enough.”

Following the abuse Ms Walton received on social media last week, the #IStandWithGill movement was created which the RCM said had shone a spotlight on the abuse health and care staff experienced daily.

Also signing the letter, Unison’s general secretary Christina McAnea reiterated that, as staff encouraged uptake of Covid-19 vaccines, “some have suffered appalling abuse” and called for this to be put to a stop.

"The pandemic is real, and the virus can kill. Anti-vaxxers and Covid deniers are entitled to their opinions. But they must be prevented from hounding dedicated NHS staff, who must be protected so they can do their jobs in peace,” she said.

Ruth May

In support of the letter, chief nursing officer for England, Ruth May, said: “It is not acceptable that NHS staff – who have devoted their days, nights and weekends to protecting patients in one of the most challenging environments we have ever faced – are experiencing abusive, intimidating and violent behaviour.

“We will not tolerate abuse or violence towards our colleagues and, despite the despicable actions of a minority, the overarching support we have seen from the wider public has helped carry us through the pandemic and we are proud to have helped millions of patients over the last year.”

The letter was signed by: the RCM, the RCN, Unison, the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, NHS Confederation and the British Medical Association.