More than 4,100 nurses assaulted since January last year, says union

There were more than 4,100 reported incidents of assault against nurses between January last year and February this year, according to a healthcare union.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) said this is a “conservative figure” as many incidents are not reported.

INMO general secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha said: “Far too many nurses and midwives are assaulted in the workplace. Over 4,106 nurses were verbally, physically or sexually assaulted in their workplace last year.

“We know that this is a conservative figure as many nurses and midwives do not report these incidents, nor indeed do their employers.

“The HSE as an employer needs to radically shift its focus when it comes to the safety of its employees.

“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. Far too often it is the overcrowded conditions that they are working in that is to blame.

“It is imperative that each hospital reflects on its own security arrangements and what they are doing to keep nurses, midwives and other frontline healthcare workers safe while at work.”

Ms Ni Sheaghdha said the INMO has high expectations for the establishment of an advisory division for health and social care services within the Health and Safety Authority.

The HSE said ensuring the safety of employees and service users is a “priority” for the organisation.

In response to the INMO statement, the HSE said it was committed to creating a safe environment within which to work or to be treated and that staff are encouraged to report all “near misses” and incidents – even those that do not result in harm.

It added: “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.”

It said an Employee Assistance Programme is available for staff who have been victims of assaults.