---

Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill

They are important in terms of sending a very strong message to healthcare workers, to those who are responsible as their managers and to the population as a whole that there will be a specific offence and that any assault on a healthcare worker who is going about the course of their duty, wherever they are located, will not be tolerated. Every medical professional knows that confused, aggressive and even violent patients might be extremely ill; I am not advocating criminalising sick people. However, it is not acceptable for the family or friends of patients to feel that they can create an uncontrolled—often alcohol-fuelled—disturbance and not be admonished. The most robust protection possible must be available to deal with individuals who deliberately seek to cause disturbance and prevent others doing their job to help patients.