Healthcare workers face many challenges in their job and the COVID-19 pandemic has only increased the amount of pressure that they face. It’s important that employers provide the right equipment and support to help their staff get through these uncertain times. Lone healthcare workers often conduct in-home visits to patients without supervision.
Some lone healthcare workers have experienced verbal abuse, violence and aggression from patients and relatives, people with weapons or people who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol. While not all lone healthcare workers have experienced violence, they are more than three times likely to experience verbal or physical abuse than people in other professions with only police officers and security guards at higher risk.