Düsseldorf (dpa/lnw) – The number of acts of violence in hospitals in North Rhine-Westphalia has increased by more than 34 percent since 2017. This emerged from the Interior Ministry’s response to a request by the SPD parliamentary group. A very strong increase of 22 percent occurred in 2022. In 2023 there was an increase of almost nine percent, and crimes totaled 1,705 cases. That means four to five days.
“These are truly shocking figures and need to wake everyone up. Health workers must be better protected,” said SPD MP Lisa Kapteinat. Most recently, attacks on hospital staff in Essen caused widespread outrage. A young doctor is seriously injured by people who have been convicted before and are associated with the clan’s crimes.
The figures refer to so-called crimes of brutality. This includes acts of violence such as physical abuse, robbery and civil liberties.
