Emergency department staff in the UK are regularly facing violence and aggression, with many reporting incidents such as being kicked or subjected to racial abuse. According to a survey by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM), 96% of the 2,126 staff surveyed have experienced violence or aggression from patients or members of the public. Around 73% of these staff said such incidents occurred weekly or even daily, and two-thirds reported that the abuse included discrimination. One consultant shared an experience of being kicked in the face by an aggressive patient. Only 4% of the staff said they "always felt safe" while working in emergency departments. Despite the prevalence of such incidents, only 41% of staff who reported the abuse said their NHS trust took meaningful action. Long wait times for patients have been cited as a contributing factor to the rise in aggression. Dr. Ian Higginson, president of the RCEM, launched the Safe to Care campaign and emphasized that no one should go to work fearing or expecting to be attacked. He noted that many staff do not feel safe to care for patients, which is causing some to question whether they should continue in emergency medicine or healthcare altogether. He called on the government to address the issue, stating that long waits and overcrowding are key drivers of the problem, but these are not the fault of the staff. The survey also found that long waiting times (90%), overcrowding (85%), staff shortages, and the need to provide care in corridors (65%) have worsened the situation. Dr. Catherine Hayhurst, co-chair of the RCEM quality in emergency care committee, said that the stories shared by staff have been heartbreaking but not unexpected. She called on policymakers and NHS leaders to work together to make emergency departments safer for staff. In March, NHS staff survey data revealed that nearly one in seven staff had been physically attacked by a patient or member of the public in the past year—the highest rate in three years. Additionally, one in 10 staff reported experiencing discrimination. A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care stated that any violence, abuse, or harassment toward NHS staff is unacceptable. The government recently introduced new NHS staff standards requiring employers to take steps to prevent and reduce violence and abuse, ensuring staff can perform their jobs safely.