Assaults on psychiatric nurses up 47%

PSYCHIATRIC nurses were attacked more than 1,250 times last year — up almost 50% on 2001, a survey revealed yesterday.

In a report on violence against medical staff, the Psychiatric Nurses Association detailed attacks in which workers were stabbed, bitten, kicked and punched and had bones fractured and teeth knocked out.

Blood-filled syringes, fire extinguishers, pool cues, chairs and crutches were used as weapons, the report noted.