Hospital abusestill unreported

The Sentinel has highlighted the fact that shocking levels of abuse - nurses, doctors and social workers were physically attacked 780 times in the Western Health and Social Care Trust (WHSCT) in 2009/10 alone - are not being fully reported to the PSNI.

In 2009/10 just eight assaults at Altnagelvin - the largest facility in the Western Trust - were reported to the PSNI in Foyle.

This was in spite of WHSCT figures showing that there were over 1,277 cases of verbal and physical abuse against healthcare staff in the Western Trust area in 2009/10.

Now new figures reveal that between October 2010 and September 2011 the PSNI attended just three incidents (all verbal abuse related) at Altnagelvin. The figures were taken from Western Trust Incident Report Forms

Health Minister Edwin Poots revealed the information in response to an Assembly Question.

The Sentinel last month reported how anti-community elements were responsible for nearly 50 crimes at Londonderry hospitals in 2011.

A shocking 37 crimes were recorded at Altnagelvin including 16 instances of violence against the person and one sexual offence.

In relation to specific abuse of staff data for 2009/10 showed nurses, doctors and social workers were physically attacked 780 times in the Western Trust.

They were subjected to verbal abuse on 497 separate occasions. Only in Belfast were there as many assaults.

According to information previously released by the PSNI under Freedom of Information legislation a mere fraction of assaults are being reported.

Nine assaults were reported in 2005/6; 8 in 2006/7; 11 in 2007/8; 12 in 2008/9; and 8 in 2009/10.

The Western Trust has said it remains committed to a “Zero Tolerance” campaign launched in 2010 to deal with the problem.

A spokesperson previously told this paper: “Staff provide high quality care to patients and clients in both hospital and community settings and they must be allowed to do so without the fear of violence or attack.

“Staff are encouraged to report all incidents regardless of how low the severity and the Trust has processes in place to reduce the risk of incidents occurring.”

The spokesperson continued: “The Trust has developed close working relationships with local PSNI teams who respond immediately to any call for assistance and who give us full co-operation.

“The figures reported to DHSSPS include all incidents such as verbal attacks, which is significantly higher than the figure referred to PSNI.

“The Trust continues to review and invest in the safety provisions in place, robustly challenges any incidents of attacks or abuse of staff and proactively works with staff in relation to any follow-up action.

“The Trust has in place a Zero Tolerance group and Health and Safety Group both of which work with staff representatives to address risks and to encourage staff to report appropriate incidents to the Police.”

In 2010 former Health Minister Michael McGimpsey signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the PSNI and the PPS to ensure the protection of health service staff.

Chief Superintendent Andrew McQuiggan, PSNI said then: “Health care staff deserve to be protected as they carry out their important duties caring for everyone in our communities.

“Police are determined to play our part in ensuring staff are protected and that those who break the law are subjected to the full rigour of the law.”