INO calls on HSE to identify risks to nurses

THE IRISH Nurses Organisation (INO) has called on the Health Service Executive (HSE) to put in place improved procedures for identifying risks to nurses before attacks by patients occur.

INO midwest industrial officer Mary Fogarty made the comment yesterday after an unprovoked attack by a male patient in recent days on a nurse at Ennis General Hospital.

Ms Fogarty said the nurse was lucky not to suffer more serious injuries in the assault.

The attack by the patient with a personality disorder took place in recent days. The patient kicked, punched and scraped the nurse.

Ms Fogarty said that only for the intervention of a colleague, the attack could have been far more serious.

It is understood that as the patient is classified as having a personality disorder and not a psychiatric disorder, he is deemed not to be a suitable admission for an adjacent psychiatric acute unit.

After the attack, the patient was transferred to a private room and a security guard was placed at the door for two nights. However, the man was subsequently transferred back to the general ward.

Ms Fogarty said: “It is incumbent on the HSE to identify risks on nurses before they occur, not after the event when it is too late.”

She said that attacks on nurses “are common enough”.

The nurse returned to work immediately after a couple of scheduled days off and has been offered counselling.

Brian Meaney, a Green Party councillor and member of the Ennis Hospital Development Committee, questioned why the patient was in Ennis General in the first place and why he was allowed to be back on to the ward.

Mr Meaney said that nurses should not have been placed at risk in the first place by the man being placed in the ward.

Mr Meaney expressed fears that “such an assault could recur and nurses should not be placed at risk of a repeat incident”.

He said: “It would appear from the limited facts I have in relation to the case that the man should be admitted to the psychiatric unit. This is best both for his own safety and that of the nurses.”