The trust which runs Ipswich and Colchester hospitals saw more than 600 incidents of violence against staff in the last 12 months.

The increase in violent and aggressive incidents has been called worrying by union officials ahead of a board meeting.

According to East Suffolk and North Essex Foundation Trust's (ESNEFT) annual health and safety report, between April 1 last year to March 31 this year there were 648 violent incidents reported by employees.

This is an increase of 32% compared to the year prior, which saw 491 incidents. 

However, only 24.5% or 159 of these incidents required security officers to "restrain" while at the ground of the hospitals. 

The report says there have been no improper use of restraint identified during the reporting period.

Body cameras were introduced for security officers in August 2023 and has seen no complaints against security staff.

A request has been made for agency security officers that provide observations for patients with challenging behaviour to be issued with the same equipment.

In the report, ESNEFT's head of health and safety Penny Ellis-Nunn wrote: "Security officers are required to support clinical staff to deal with incidents of inappropriate and aggressive behaviour from patients as well as managing incidents of violent and aggressive behaviour by members of the public who are on the hospital sites."

The report also looks into other health and safety incidents at the hospital and notes that the total number of these incidents has also risen from 1,041 in 2022/23 to 1,399 in 2023/24. 

This means that each year since ESNEFT was formed in 2018 the number of reports has increased.

The report rated the trust as 'good' for its method of reporting incidents, management of sharps, personal protective equipment and information. 

The trust was 'adequate' in management and first aid but 'requires improvement' in the control of substances of hazardous health - which is an umbrella term that could mean anything from dust to bacteria. 

Director of estates and facilities at ESNEFT, Nick Sammons, said that safety is a top priority for them.

He added: “We have a strong culture of reporting health and safety incidents which has given us greater data against which we can prioritise our future target areas and highlight our achievements.

"This includes improving some of our training facilities, and positively seeing an increase in workplace inspections and volume of training undertaken.”

UNISON Eastern regional organiser Sam Older expressed concern over the figures.

He said: “Staff and patients expect a safe environment when they attend hospitals so it’s worrying to see this rise in security incidences."

ESNEFT's board will discuss this report in depth during a public meeting on Thursday.