Employers concerned about assaults on health workers

The Health Service Employers Agency has expressed concern about the high number of assaults on health workers in Ireland.

Reports this morning said almost 1,000 assaults on staff were recorded in general hospitals and learning disability institutions in 2002.

The reports said 224 of the 941 assaults took place in St Ita’s Hospital in Dublin, while one employee in a Dublin institution has been on sick leave since February 2002 after being punched and kicked in the face.

HSEA spokesman Brendan Mulligan said: "We are very concerned at the level of attacks on health service workers and the emphasis now must be to ensure that staff are properly trained in the control and management of aggression."