Alan Kelly calls for ‘zero tolerance’ for hospital staff attacks

Labour has called on the HSE and hospital managements to respond to the high number of assaults on staff in HSE-run hospitals.

Following the revelations in yesterday’s Irish Examiner that almost 3,500 assaults took place in HSE hospitals in recent years Alan Kelly, the party’s spokesman on health, said the HSE should take a “zero tolerance approach” to these attacks.

“It is incumbent on the HSE and hospital management to respond to these shockingly high figures, ensure these attacks are taken seriously and that, where possible, action is taken (and ensure) assaults are reported to An Garda Síochána, and criminal prosecutions pursued.