Is it really assault?

Strangely enough help and understanding are more likely to be forthcoming if a proper record of someone's behaviour is kept. It isn't being judgemental it is just recording incidents, call them incidents if you wish, but not reporting or recording them helps nobody. It is no different to recording a physical symptom and should be regarded in exactly the same way.

They are incidents not assaults imo and, going back to the op, recording assaults by bewildered, confused and/or demented patients is just plain stupid unless it is extreme. It goes with the territory.

It may go with the territory kitty, but it is still important information about a person's behaviour. As I said before, we are probably only hearing the headline about the statistics. I'm sure every assault recorded will have further details about the circumstances. For one thing, how do you measure whether or not a patient's behaviour is getting worse, particularly where there is no continuity of care?

Assault is an emotive word, but it just means a physical attack. The circumstances are relevant, but it is still assault.

kitty NHS, care homes and secure units are all required to record assaults. This is for all the reasons already mentioned. He's not doing anyone any favours by 'sucking it up'!

I agree with trisher that the crux is that the incident, assault, whatever you want to call it, is recorded.
It's not a judgement on the patient, or used to instigate proceedings, but simply to put into context the task that the healthcare worker was trying to do.
Nurses, doctors, dentists, physios etc all have standards to meet.
Anything that compromises those standards should be recorded, to protect the professional standing of the HCW.
For example, a patient with dementia might well decide they don't want to take their medication, and hit out at the HCW trying to administer it.
Unless this is recorded, it would be assumed that the HCW wasn't doing their job properly and was failing to ensure the medication had been taken.
I agree with jane10 I'm afraid Kitty, that by not recording these incidents your DH is making things more difficult for anyone who takes over the care of his patients, because they're not getting a full picture of how cooperative or otherwise the patient might be

I suspect, kitty, that your husband is old enough and wise enough to exercise his own judgement.

My son did part of his psychiatric nurse training at both Broadmoor and Rampton, as a nurse, not a guard. Non damaging self defence techniques were part of the training. We are not talking dementia here but what we used to call 'mad' people who are now treated with as much respect as can practically be given. Avoiding violent attacks, not always successfully, was part of the job.

My daughter-in-law does work she loves at a boarding facility for 'difficult' children. She often comes home with bruises and bite marks covering her arms. Her view is that the children didn't meant to hurt her and that someone has to look after them.

I think they are saints, but they take it in their stride. As someone else in this thread said, the people who can't take it should do something else.

kitty to to be clear, I was not in any way implying your husband is not good at his job. Anyone working in a difficult care environment will have a certain amount of judgement in their roles. Nobody wants to be completing unnecessary paperwork.

My point is to do with the basic OP about whether or not assault the correct term to use. My answer is yes, but it should be qualified as appropriate. Remember the information comes from NHS Protect and is about NHS staff. The reports also stresses that staff should not just "think it is part of the job".

You are quite right grumppa!