Health service workers in the wider Western Trust Area were physically or verbally abused over 692 times last year and 474 in the first nine months of 2016. 

The Trust has noted that a large proportion of these incidents occur in Adult Mental Health and Disability Services and Older Peoples Services.

Erne North Councillor Raymond Farrell says the figures, released by the Trust under a Freedom of Information request, may not fully reflect the true scale of staff assaults. 

He said: “I am sure there are indeed more such incidents that for various reasons staff do not report as well as the other branches of care and emergency teams out providing a service who are also victims. Hospital staff should expect to be able to care for people in a safe environment free from violence and assault, physical or verbal. When it does happen it needs to be acknowledged, they need to feel supported by being listened to and the courts need to place the maximum penalty available.”

The attacks have also been condemned by Fermanagh South Tyrone MLA Rosemary Barton, who says more support for staff must be considered.

“Doctors, nurses and support staff are incredibly hardworking and dedicated to providing high quality care for all. Attacks on them cannot be tolerated. We ask them to work long hours in difficult conditions and at the very least we owe them the right to work without fear of attack.

“It is imperative that additional security measures are put in place to help keep medical and support staff in our health and social care services safe. People who are held responsible for attacks on staff in our care services should be sanctioned through a recognised method of dealing with the aggressive and abusive behaviour, whether through the courts or through alcohol and drug related help centres,” she added. 

In response, the Western Trust said it is committed to the Regional ‘Zero Tolerance’ campaign, which clearly states that any form of attack or abuse of staff is not acceptable.

A Staff Attack alarm has been operational at SWAH’s Emergency and Medical Imaging departments since last August while all Portering staff have completed a one day MAPA (Management of Actual and Potential Aggression).

A spokesman added: “No member of staff in any part of the Western area whether in hospital or community care settings, should be subjected to any form of attack or abuse. The Trust is concerned that any of their staff would experience any type of threatening behaviour in the course of their duty and would reiterate that this is not acceptable and firm action will always be taken in such incidents.”