Alleged nurse assaults blamed on staff shortage

The Health and Safety Authority has been asked to inspect a hospital’s psychiatric unit where six nurses have been allegedly assaulted in the last fortnight.

Due to ongoing staff shortages, the situation has become “particularly chronic” in the acute admission psychiatric unit at Kerry General Hospital, Tralee, the Psychiatric Nurses’ Association has claimed.

The PNA’s Cormac Williams said that while there had been no assault causing serious injury, staff had been kicked and punched and some were on sick leave as a result.