We all know how much we owe the staff of the NHS, from the midwives who helped deliver my son at Watford General Hospital, to the doctors there who cared for my grandmother in her last days. They work long hours in stressful situations, trying to do the best for their patients. They should not have to cope with the fear of violence.

Sadly, this is not always the case. In recent weeks, local doctors, local surgeries and hospitals have raised concerns about the safety of their staff. In NHS trusts serving Hertsmere alone there over 1,000 assaults last year.

That’s why last month I led a debate in Parliament on assaults on NHS staff, prompted by a petition from over 100,000 people calling for tougher laws.

All MPs agreed that these attacks are completely unacceptable and most not be tolerated. The question the debate sought to address was how to stop them. Measures we discussed included:

·         Tougher sentences

·         A nationwide zero-tolerance campaign

·         Working environments designed with security in mind

·         Greater provision of lone worker alarms

·         Better training for security staff

In light of the debate, the Government indicated support for these measures. They agreed to strengthen the protocols governing how we prosecute such assaults, and in particular to make sure that the specific nature of such offences are clearly highlighted when they come before court.

People are outraged that healers who put themselves on the line to care for us should be subject to assault. A correction to our approach to the perpetrators is overdue.

• This article appeared in the April edition of MyRadlett and MyBushey News