Fearful staff at Cork hospital forced to carry alarms amid verbal and physical abuse

Nurses can alert a security team to their location if subject to abuse by patients

Verbal and physical abuse of nurses by patients at Mercy University Hospital in Cork has reached such a level that staff now carry alarms. Picture: Dan Linehan

Verbal and physical abuse of nurses by patients at Mercy University Hospital (MUH) in Cork has reached such a level that staff now carry alarms to send their precise locations to security guards.

A security team led by former Garda superintendent Con Cadogan helps nurses to report incidents and to prosecute offenders.

Close links with gardaí have encouraged nurses to report abuse, says Emma Murphy, a member of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), private and voluntary branch.

There are 25 cases with gardaí and “under review” and some 40 have already been prosecuted.

“Thirteen are awaiting a court date, 30 have been issued with anti-social behaviour orders, and 55 people have had conversations with the guards,” said Ms Murphy.

The security team is supported by a Garda liaison officer. 

Nurses and midwives frequently deal with aggression from patients and their relatives, said Ms Murphy.

“I’d say there’s probably some of my colleagues who would definitely feel afraid sometimes,” she said. 

She is frequently insulted during her duties.

One shocking incident was caught on CCTV. “There was a knife pulled on a paramedic. It was pulled between a paramedic and a security officer. It was dealt with within seconds.”

The pinpoint alarm systems carried by staff connect to screens that show security, porters, and managers the location of the crisis. If activated, an alarm is set off.

“They all just descend and sort the situation out.”

Emma Murphy, a member of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, said close links with gardaí have encouraged nurses to report abuse. Picture: Niamh Griffin

Ms Murphy, acting clinical nurse manager level 3, has been an emergency department nurse at MUH for nine years. Despite the challenges, she said it is a “much safer place to work” now because of the support.

“There is no less abuse, on average, but it is definitely safer in the department; the response is much better to any incident.”

Speaking during the INMO annual delegate conference, she said: “I know the level of violence and aggression isn’t unique to the Mercy, but from listening to my colleagues, I would say we have one of the better systems in place.”

Abuse is sometimes driven by frustration at overcrowding. She said the solution is obvious: “More beds into the system, more staff on the ground, medical staff, consultant cover.”

Waiting lists for mental health and addiction services for all ages add to the numbers.

“We see a lot of alcohol- and drug-related presentations, whereas if these people had access to proper, appropriate healthcare, we probably wouldn’t see them as often.” 

A motion calling on the HSE to have a zero-tolerance approach to abuse “and pursue the perpetrators” legally was carried.

Outgoing INMO president Karen McGowan issued a warning in her final speech. 

“At least 12 nurses and midwives are assaulted in their workplace every single day of the week,” said Ms McGowan.

'Under-reported' 

She said incidents are under-reported. 

“Because the reporting process can be arduous, especially after a shift that you have worked has been relentless and the staffing below what it should be, finding the mental energy to write a report that often doesn’t receive the attention it should is difficult.”

Nurses and midwives bear the brunt of public anger “for conditions that are outside of their control”, she warned. 

“They are also the ones subjected to many repeated inquiry procedures, internal and external, to account for their actions.”

Ms McGowan called on Health Minister Stephen Donnelly to hold a public inquiry into how patients are affected by the “lack of multi-annual funding, implementation of safe staffing and skill mix”.