HSE criticises Newstalk for hospital exposé

THE HSE has criticised Newstalk radio for what it termed a mundane episode on security in psychiatric units.

Yesterday, the radio programmers said they were standing over the investigation and said their report was a matter of public interest.

Recently, Newstalk reporter Samantha Barry managed to gain access to where staff and patients were gathered in St Anne’s Day Hospital in Limerick with three knives in her shoulder bag.

Two doctors, Catherine Burns and Annanth Pullela, suffered a knife attack in this same hospital waiting room last January.

“Today, the HSE attacked Newstalk for sending an undercover reporter in what they described as a ‘mundane episode’. However, the programme stands over its investigation and this report as a matter of public interest after receiving calls from medical and nursing staff in the Limerick region,” a spokesperson for Newstalk said yesterday.

Des Kavanagh, general secretary of the Psychiatric Nurses Association, responding to the criticism said: ‘In relation to clinical staff, I received many calls from frontline services around the country and staff were absolutely delighted that Samantha Barry demonstrated how poor safety precautions are in the service and that your programme had highlighted the problems we are facing.

“Frankly, the HSE should really focus on addressing the shortcomings. Clinical staff who are in the frontline are thrilled with the support given by the Lunchtime Newstalk programme and the media in general.”

Mr Kavanagh went on to criticise the HSE for labelling the report a ‘mundane episode’. “The public realise the danger that we work with and expect we’d be safe. They expect that our employers would be somewhat concerned with our safety. There is no recognition in that statement for our safety.

“In Samantha Barry’s case, she merely carried out research as a journalist in relation to what might happen. It is clear to her and us that someone with malevolent interest could walk in and assault our staff. To describe the fact a reporter could gain access with knives as a ‘mundane episode’ reflects the HSE treatment of this affair.”

Mr Kavanagh, who represents more than 5,500 nurses, said the incident in St Annes was not unique.

“One of our nurses in a different day hospital in Limerick was accosted by a client of the services who forced her to her knees, who pulled a long machete, or a long knife from under her coat, who held that to her throat, and both her partner and herself threatened that she would have her head sliced off. And the nurse, I can recall her words to me, she said, ‘all I could think of was, I would never see my two babies again’.

“We accept that the extreme incident will happen. We expect routine safety precautions would be put in place, and that’s not there at the moment.”

Labour Party health sporkeswoman Jan O’Sullivan’s backed Mr Kavanagh’s comments. “The HSE have to stop being defensive and address the real issues of staff and patients. Attacking the media is not going to solve the problem that led to that particular incident. So I think it is time the HSE faced the problem.”