Almost 26,000 assaults on HSE staff over four years 

Low staff numbers and delays in treating patients have been blamed for rising tensions in hospitals and other healthcare settings. Picture: iStock

HSE staff suffered over 25,700 physical, sexual, or verbal assaults in just over four years, with some of the incidents leading to fractures, trauma, or long-term disabilities.

Low staff numbers and delays in treating patients have been blamed for rising tensions in hospitals and other healthcare settings.

Some 41 incidents were categorised as major injuries, which the HSE said can include losing a limb or long-term incapacity and where staff needed medical attention for more than six months.

Another 852 people suffered “significant injuries”, including broken bones or trauma from violent and aggressive acts, with gardaí or the Health and Safety Authority called.

Up to eight days in hospital after 'moderate' assaults

Categorised as "moderate" assaults, these often led to staff being hospitalised for three to eight days.

A further 2,200 incidents were ranked as "minor", where staff needed first aid, and up to three days in hospital.

A further 22,690 incidents categorised as "negligible" — staff did not need first aid but were left shaken by the incident.

The figures were released by the HSE to Social Democrats TD for Cork East Liam Quaide, who described them as “highly concerning”.

"Understaffing is a risk factor in this trend, and it is essential that the government enacts legislation mandating safe staffing levels across services.” 

He called for an increase in security guards and greater use of CCTV in hospitals. 

“The Health and Safety Authority should also be resourced to investigate these incidents,” he said.

Over 60% of the reports were from nurses, a total of 15,526 incidents.

Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation general secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha said: “Our members, the majority of whom are women, need to know that they can go about very difficult jobs of treating patients in a safe manner without having to worry about their own safety.

Too many of our members have had career-ending or career-changing incidents happen to them in the line of their work through no fault of their own. 

She called for the HSE to address the HSE and for the HSA to expand its role.

Referring to long delays facing some patients, she said: “Unfortunately, if they do vent their frustrations, frontline nurses and midwives are the ones who often end up taking the brunt.” 

Others assaulted included 240 housekeeping staff, 1,216 therapists, 417 doctors, 27 dentists and 228 ambulance or transport staff, with 10,796 reports from mental health services and 5,146 from disability services.

Siptu has asked for better supports and a focus on staffing.

What's your view on this issue?

You can tell us here

“It is simply unacceptable staff should be subject to the threat of violence, aggression, or assault when undertaking their duties,” a spokesman said.

Katrina Dempsey, head of the HSE National Health and Safety Function, said: “When considering the figures in the report it should be noted that staff are encouraged to report all “near misses” and incidents – even those that do not result in harm.

“Hence, the number of incident reports should not be considered as indicative of a level of harm. There may also be multiple reports relating to the same incident.”