Hospital attack: staff’s worst fears realised

THE sad news of an assault on medical staff at a psychiatric day hospital in Limerick confirms fears staff have been expressing for many years that such an event was likely.

While serious attacks of this type are rare, it is essential nonetheless that measures are put in place to anticipate and defuse them. Clearly this has not been the case.

With the closure of long-stay psychiatric hospitals, it is now almost impossible to provide residential care for those most in need.