• S R Rainey, J Simpson, S Page, M Crowley, J Evans, M Sheridan, and A J Ireland.
• Emergency Medicine Registrar, Emergency Department, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, UK stevenrainey@nhs.net.
• Scot Med J. 2015 May 1; 60 (2): 90-4.

BackgroundRecent violence reduction initiatives in Glasgow have led to a reduction in recorded levels of violent crime.(1) This study evaluates the impact of these initiatives on assault-related emergency department attendances and admissions.MethodsA retrospective observational study conducted in Glasgow Royal Infirmary's emergency department comparing assault-related emergency department attendances and hospital admissions over two 30-day study periods (April 2010 and April 2012). The primary outcome measure was the change in assault-related emergency department attendances. The secondary outcome measure was the impact on assault-related hospital and critical care admissions.ResultsIn April 2010, there were 6098 emergency department attendances, 301 (4.9%) were due to assault. In April 2012, there were 7236 emergency department attendances, 263 (3.6%) were due to assault, representing a significant reduction in assault-related attendances (p < 0.01). There were significant reductions in level 1 admissions 2010 n = 56 (19.2%), 2012 n = 36 (14.0%) p = 0.04 and critical care admissions, 2010 n = 5 (1.7%), 2012 n = 1 (0.4%) p = 0.04.ConclusionsViolence reduction initiatives in Glasgow have contributed to a reduction in assault-related emergency department attendance at Glasgow Royal Infirmary. The reduction in hospital admissions, in particular critical care admissions, suggests a reduction in morbidity and cost to the National Health Service.© The Author(s) 2015 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav.

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