Healthcare facilities across Germany are increasingly implementing enhanced security measures to safeguard their staff from escalating incidents of verbal and physical aggression.
Gerald Gaß, CEO of the German Hospital Confederation (DKG), told the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland that hospitals have been compelled to develop various protective strategies in recent years. These measures include the deployment of security personnel, de-escalation and self-defense training programs and structural modifications to facilities.
One approach involves restricting direct contact between patients and their families, particularly in emergency room waiting areas, to trained security staff for non-medical inquiries. This aims to facilitate the swift identification of individuals potentially prone to aggressive behavior. Hospitals are also prioritizing staffing shifts to ensure the inclusion of physically capable nursing staff in teams. Gaß emphasized that these circumstances are not acceptable.
Klaus Reinhardt, President of the German Medical Association, informed RND that medical chambers are supporting physicians through further training events and targeted de-escalation workshops, equipping them to respond appropriately to aggressive behavior. Several chambers have established dedicated reporting channels for those affected by such incidents.
Gaß stressed that hospital employees are typically neither trained in martial arts nor specialized in de-escalation techniques. He asserted their right to perform their work free from physical harm. He highlighted the need for adequate funding for hospital security measures, noting that clinics currently face financial burdens related to security personnel costs.
Both associations are advocating for the establishment of a centralized reporting system and stricter penalties for perpetrators. Reinhardt believes a nationwide, streamlined system for documenting incidents is essential to accurately gauge the scale of the problem and implement effective countermeasures. Gaß added that the government must send a clear message condemning violence and demonstrating zero tolerance.
