At least two more private security officers are needed at Mount Carmel Hospital at any time to prevent attacks on medical staff by patients, nurses’ union vice-president Noel Camilleri said yesterday.
He renewed calls made by the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses to step up security at the hospital after two of the hospital’s nurses were attacked within a week, one while accompanying a patient at Mater Dei.
In light of the two incidents, MUMN has ordered nurses not to accompany aggressive patients unless private security is provided.
On Tuesday, one nurse was physically assaulted by a female patient who was being treated at the Female 1 ward at Mount Carmel, while the other attack took place on Thursday. “At Mount Carmel, the government-appointed security officers can do nothing. They are not allowed to intervene and that is why, a few weeks ago, we had called for an increase in the number of private security officers,” Mr Camilleri said.
When the first incident occurred, there was only one security officer who could intervene, he added.
The nurse who was injured at Mater Dei had to be treated at the hospital after the patient under her care injured her badly.
“The nurse had injuries all over the body. The patient even pulled at her hair and kicked her in the ribs,” Mr Camilleri said. The nurse was also psychologically scarred, he said.
The patient even pulled at her hair and kicked her in the ribs
Instead of helping her, the security officers at the hospital “abandoned their post”, he claimed.
“The police who were present took a while to intervene since no woman has been assigned there. Mater Dei’s response team were also called to assist the nurse but never showed up.” This nurse has since requested to be transferred to another hospital as she no longer feels safe working at Mount Carmel Hospital.
“MUMN appeals to the authorities involved to facilitate the transfer process so that the nurse can be sent to another hospital as soon as possible,” Mr Camilleri said.
In its action, the union has also said aggressive patients may not be let out of their single room without the presence of two security officers.
In October, the company that provides security services at Mater Dei Hospital suspended two of its officers after an internal investigation found they had “failed to actively intervene” when a policemen was being beaten up by a patient at the Emergency Department.