More than one nurse attacked every week in Downpatrick

More than one nurse attacked every week in Downpatrick

6 March 2019

SIXTY-FIVE nurses were assaulted while on duty at the Downe and Downshire hospitals last year.

The shocking figure — confirmed by the Department of Health — reveals that more than one nurse a week was the victim of a verbal or physical assault.

In addition, 31 health staff in the Down area who work in the community providing a range of services were also assaulted last year, taking the total number of assaults to almost 100.

Health chiefs say that the majority of recorded incidents across the health and social care sector are linked to people with mental health issues and a learning disability, rather than any malicious intent.

The South Eastern Trust, which manages the Downpatrick hospitals, Lagan Valley Hospital in Lisburn and the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald, has confirmed that 543 nurses and 30 doctors across the organisation were assaulted. Province-wide, 6,000 nurses were attacked last year.

Local health campaigners and Northern Ireland’s Chief Nursing Officer, Dr Charlotte McArdle, say any any form of attack on nurses and other healthcare workers is “totally unacceptable” and that the incidents have a “hugely negative impact” on staff.

Health trade union Unison said the figures were “shocking” but not surprising and that attacks in the workplace were unacceptable. The union said the issue of attacks was something regularly raised by its members.

Down Community Health Committee member Anne Trainor expressed concern about the number of assaults on local staff who, she said, worked under very severe circumstances.

“Nursing staff do a very difficult job in what can be a challenging environment and we commend them for the excellent work they do at the frontline of the health service,” said Mrs Trainor.

“While I accept that many of the assaults are related to people with mental health issues, not all of the incidents are. People with drug and alcohol problems also assault nursing staff and my question in the wake of the assault figures which have been published is what is being done to address the issue?”

Mrs Trainor asked if security personnel are deployed to hospitals, particularly emergency departments at weekends, to protect staff.

“Nurses do not expect the assaults many of them are being subjected to and I hope more will be done to ensure they can go about their excellent work, free from the threat of being verbally or physically abused.”

Dr McArdle, who is the province’s most senior nurse, said health care staff worked “incredibly hard” in a high-pressure environment and she was appalled to think that people who dedicated themselves to caring for others and saving lives were being subjected to verbal or physical abuse within their place of work.

She said it was her wish to ensure staff, the public and patients were safeguarded from violent and antisocial behaviour.

“These experiences have a hugely negative impact on their performance at work, as well as the physical and mental health of healthcare staff and their personal and family relationships,” she said.

“Healthcare workers often express an understanding as to why some people they work with may behave in certain ways, sometimes that’s due to illness but often it’s just unacceptable behaviour.”

All health trusts operate a robust ‘zero tolerance’ policy on assaults which is overseen by a senior director. The policy requires the provision of a working environment where employees can undertake their duties without fear of abuse or violence.

Dr McArdle added: “Whilst it is recognised that incidents of an aggressive or violent nature cannot be fully eliminated, the policy provides a means to manage and minimise the risk to employees.

“It aims to ensure that all staff are aware of, and are protected from, as far as is reasonably practical, violent or potentially violent situations that may occur within Trust facilities and or whilst staff are on duty.”

Nicki Patterson, the South Eastern Trust’s Director of Nursing, Older People and Primary Care,

reiterated the points made by Dr McArdle, highlighting the zero tolerance policy for healthcare staff.   

Ms Patterson also welcomed the establishment of a zero tolerance task and finish group which will review the existing policy and the development of a regional policy for the management of incidents of violence and aggression against health and social care staff.