Abuse of hospital staff - Tolerating violence is no solution

LAST year 589 hospital workers outside Dublin were attacked in the course of their work. A mere 14 of those cases were reported to the gardaí, and eight of those resulted in convictions.

In 10 of the 589 instances, doctors were assaulted — five verbally and five physically. Thus the bulk of the incidents involved other members of staff, who are literally on the frontline. The severity of the assaults ranged from a tongue lashing to nurses requiring

hospitalisation as a result of being punched or kicked. Some had teeth knocked out, or were concussed.