Attacks against hospital staff on the increase

THE number of violent incidents against staff at Kerry General Hospital in Tralee has almost doubled in the past year, the Health Service Executive (HSE) South confirmed yesterday.

Reported incidents, including actual assaults, threats of assault and verbal abuse, rose from 73 in 2004 to 135 in 2005. Four nurses recently sustained minor injuries when assaulted by a patient who had become violent in the hospital.

Hospital deputy general manager Kathleen Jordan said any incident of violence towards staff was considered serious and, unless the incident related to a perpetrator’s medical condition, it was referred to the gardaí.