Ask from your hospital: Please continue to respect our nurses and doctors

Chesterfield Royal Hospital nurses are asking patients and visitors to please treat colleagues with respect as recent hot weather has increased demand across our services and added to the pressure on an already busy Emergency Department.

During the recent spell of high temperatures, our Emergency Department teams have cared for large numbers of patients every day. At the same time, we continue to encourage everyone to THINK which service you need before attending hospital, helping ensure emergency care is available for those who need it most.

Alongside those arriving through the front door, there are seriously unwell patients being cared for in Majors and Resus, people arriving by ambulance who cannot safely sit and wait, and patients whose condition means they need immediate or more intensive treatment.

Teams are working continuously behind the scenes to assess patients, prioritise those with the greatest clinical need and keep people moving safely through the hospital.

Andrea Staley, Divisional Nurse Director for Medicine and Emergency Care, said: "When we're busy, waits can be longer and temperatures can rise. We completely understand that people may be worried, uncomfortable or frustrated. But our colleagues are doing everything they can to care for everyone safely, and abuse is never acceptable.

"We'd also ask people to think carefully about which service is right for them before attending the Emergency Department. NHS 111, community pharmacies, urgent treatment centres and GP services can often provide the help people need without a visit to hospital.

"Someone who appears to have gone ahead of you may have arrived by ambulance or need urgent treatment that simply cannot wait. There is an enormous amount happening behind the doors of an Emergency Department that isn't always visible from the waiting room.

"So please bear with our teams, choose the right service for your needs, and treat our colleagues with kindness and respect. They are here to help you."

For the overwhelming majority, that is exactly what happens. But the Trust is also clear that when the minority cross the line into threatening, abusive or violent behaviour, action will be taken.

During 2025/26, legal or formal action was taken following more than a dozen incidents. Outcomes included Trust sanctions, exclusions from hospital premises, police arrests, criminal prosecutions and prison sentences following incidents involving nurses, doctors, security officers and other colleagues.

One of the measures helping protect colleagues is the use of body-worn cameras by the Trust’s Security Team. Their presence can help de-escalate situations and, when incidents do occur, footage can provide robust evidence to support police investigations, court proceedings and Trust sanctions.

Ged Holland, Facilities Manager, said: "Most people understand the pressure our teams are working under and treat them with respect, and we're grateful for that. Unfortunately, a small minority don't.

"Body-worn cameras are an important part of our approach. They can help calm a situation before it escalates but, when someone does become violent, threatening or abusive, they also provide clear evidence of what happened.

"The message is simple: think which service you need, respect our colleagues and, if your behaviour crosses the line, there can be very real consequences."

The Trust is asking everyone using hospital services to choose the most appropriate service for their needs, be patient, and treat colleagues with respect as teams continue to manage significant demand.