LABOUR SPOKESPERSON ON Health, Alan Kelly has said that there should be a ”zero tolerance approach” on attacks to frontline workers, after it emerged this morning that 600 HSE staff are assaulted every year.
According to the Irish Examiner, 3,462 incidents of physical assaults were recorded by the HSE between 1 January 2011, and 26 July 2016.
The article says that almost 70% of assaults are against frontline staff, with 2,372 incidents recorded against nurses, midwives, psychiatric nurses or other nursing staff.
In a statement, Kelly said:
“It is incumbent on the HSE and hospital management to respond to these shockingly high figures, ensure these attacks are taken seriously, and that where possible action is taken, that assaults are reported to An Garda Síochána, and criminal prosecutions taken.
“Nurses, midwives, doctors and other health staff must be able to go about their already busy work with the knowledge that any attack on them will be taken seriously and prosecuted wherever possible.
Kelly also suggested that the relevant law be reviewed to see if heavier fines might be necessary to deter these attacks.
“While assaults and attacks will always unfortunately occur, particularly in what can be a stressful and upsetting environment for patients and families, knowing that there is a zero tolerance attitude to such behaviour would go some way to change societal attitudes and help protect frontline staff.”
The figures were released to the Irish Examiner under the Freedom of Information Act.
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