Let's show our disgust about these revolting attacks

Sarah Saunderson • Published 1 Apr 2010 09:22 0 Comments

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We have read court cases and heard about the zero tolerance approach from management to the issue of attacks on staff at the Erne Hospital. But the horror of these attacks has never been laid quite so bare as this week's first person accounts of the victims who have been viciously and sometimes violently attacked in the course of doing their jobs at our local hospital as revealed to our reporter who spent a night observing their work at A&E.

The majority of people who read these accounts will have positive memories of these staff -- the supportive midwife, the well-researched doctor, the caring nurse -- and will be absolutely disgusted that people who are trying to save lives are simultaneously being forced to put their own lives on the line.

The lack of basic respect is astonishing. Verbal abuse or its ugly sisters bad manners and terrible attitude are making patient behaviour affect professionals' lives in the most dreadful manner. Add violence into the mix and their working lives are made a living hell.

One interviewee pinpointed the abuse of drugs and alcohol as a major factor. Absolutely, there is no doubt that drink and drugs are mood-altering substances and in some people, excess abuse of them can have the most awful affect on their characters. But underlying basic bad manners are the touch paper that drink or drugs merely light up. It is particularly distressing that one of the worst stories of physical violence involved a young person aged only 15. This child -- and he is a child -- held a nurse up against the door by her throat. Drink again was a factor. What needs to happen now is a series of actions that are aimed to make the lives of these people, who we must remember save lives day and daily, easier.

First, decent, mannerly patients must lead by example and express their thanks for the help they receive to demonstrate how much these health professionals are appreciated.

Secondly, the Trust must re-evaluate the security at the Erne Hospital, seriously examining the possibility of providing security cover beyond 6am.

And thirdly, the Courts must continue to send the strongest of messages to thugs who abuse hospital staff that these actions are absolutely not to be tolerated.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 01 Apr 10

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