Security officer manhandled at health centre

The Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin is calling for an increase in security guards working at government health centres after one was allegedly attacked while on duty earlier this week.

According to Joe Bonello, the union's health service section secretary, the incident happened two nights ago.

Primary Health director Denis Vella Baldacchino confirmed that a security officer was allegedly manhandled by relatives of a patient when he was elbowed and pushed to the floor, hitting his head while falling and losing consciousness. The security guard - who was described as "of a quiet disposition and a committed person" - was later referred to Mater Dei Hospital where he was kept for observation and is now recovering well.

Apparently, the incident happened after the security guard remarked about the sorry state of the bathroom when a child felt sick and threw up on the floor. It seems that his remark was overheard by relatives of the child who reacted aggressively.

Dr Vella Baldacchino said the department deplored aggressive behaviour against staff members and was waiting for the police investigations to be concluded.

The union official said he will be asking the Health Division to increase the number of security guards during the night because one was not enough. "There are often incidents, especially in Paola, which seems to be particularly prone to them."

The Medical Association of Malta is also concerned about the incident, especially in the wake of increasing verbal abuse against doctors.

"We insist that the Health Division has a policy of zero tolerance against any form of abuse," association president Martin Balzan said, adding that verbal abuse was becoming "very widespread".

"This is a problem that needs to be tackled. Maybe the time has come to have policemen in health centres, just like at hospital's emergency department," he said.