(Adds PN statement)

The police are investigating an incident at Mount Carmel Hospital during which a nurse allegedly assaulted a patient after he complained that he was fed up of watching Labour’s television station.

Sources close to the investigation said the incident took place on Tuesday evening when the patient was punched and slightly injured.

The nurse was transferred to another ward pending the completion of an internal inquiry ordered by the hospital’s chief operations officer Clifton Grima.

When contacted, Dr Grima confirmed that the incident had taken place and that the nurse involved was transferred to another ward pending the investigation.

Sources said the police had taken statements by the nurses involved in the altercation and witnesses who happened to be there at the time of the incident.

However, the patient had not yet been interviewed as the investigators are still awaiting the go-ahead from his doctors.

PN calls for independent inquiry

In a statement, the Nationalist Party condemned the incident and called for an independent inquiry.

Spokesman Claudio Grech said it was unacceptable that the authorities kept the case hidden for three days before it was uncovered in the media.

He said it expected an immediate reaction for the Mental Health Commissioner.

Mr Grech said Mount Carmel patients deserved love and understanding and not aggression and under no circumstance should a staff member bully and attack a patient.

The employee concerned, he said, should not be kept in contact with patients until the inquiry is concluded.

The Commissioner for Mental Health in a statement said an investigation has been launched to  establish the facts of the case at hand and determine any action or make recommendations which may be required to protect the welfare of patients.