South West Acute Hospital
IN THE PAST year staff at the South West Acute Hospital have been subjected to 50 recorded incidents of verbal or physical abuse.
The figures – which run from April 1 of last year until March 30 of this year – were revealed to the Fermanagh Herald as the Western Trust expressed its commitment to a ‘zero tolerance’ policy.
This is aimed at reducing attacks on staff.
A spokesman explained: “No member of staff in any part of the western area in hospital or community care settings should be subjected to any form of attack or abuse.
“In relation to the South West Acute Hospital for the period 1 April 2013 to 30 March 2014 there has been 50 recorded incidents of verbal and or physical abuse towards staff. For the same period there has been a total of 1,254 recorded incidents of verbal and/or physical towards staff across Western Trust facilities.”
The spokesman added that the trust is concerned that both patients and visitors would experience ‘any type of threatening behaviour’.
“It is not acceptable for any patient, visitor or member of trust staff to be subjected to an assault. Healthcare workers appreciate the support they receive from their patients and the public. No-one wants to see attacks on staff who are committed to providing high quality care and they must be allowed to do this in safe environments.”
Sinn Fein Councillor Debbie Coyle, who has worked as a carer for 28 years, said it is of vital importance that a zero tolerance approach is supported.
“It’s definitely not something that you want to hear,” she said.
“You have to have respect for the nurses. Behind the scenes, you have to wait your turn unless it’s an emergency – and we’re there to help people. That’s why they’re working there because they want to help. I agree with a zero tolerance approach, it’s the right way to deal with it.
“We don’t go into work to be abused – and if people are going out and getting drunk, there’s no problem helping them – but they cannot hit or be abusive.”
Attacks that have made the courts
Verbal and physical attacks on staff are a regular feature in Enniskillen Magistrates Court.
Last week, a teenager who tried to bite a nurse was handed a community service order of 200 hours. The ruling came after an incident that took place in July.
The court was told that the man was taken to the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) for treatment to an injury he sustained when he fell to the ground.
As he was waiting for treatment, he began to shout and swear and told staff he needed “a f***ing p**s”.
Police noted that others were in the area at the time. He was taken to the toilet cubicle and after police removed his handcuffs the accused then fell to the ground and started punching himself on the head and shouted loudly: “I will f***ing kill myself, you bastard, I don’t give a f**k.”
When he was taken back to the waiting area where he continued to shout and threaten to kill himself.
He then tried to bite a nurse who placed him in a wheelchair.
A suspended three month jail sentence was given to a 52-year-old woman who launched a verbal and physical attack on hospital staff on December 31 of last year.
The woman threatened to kill a nurse in the New Year’s Eve incident. She had to be restrained after screaming and shouting at staff and punching a doctor in the face who had been trying to put staples into her injured head. She also launched verbal abuse at hospital staff in front of other patients and visitors. The woman told a nurse: “You f*****g bitch, I will kill you. F*****g bitch.”
An Enniskillen teenager was given a five month custodial sentence after an incident at the hospital left a nurse fearing for her safety.
Having been taken to the hospital after police found him drunk in Lisnaskea, in July of last year, the 18-year-old became agitated in the Accident and Emergency department. He became so agitated and restless that a nurse who was looking after him called for the police officers to take him away because she was in fear of him.
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