Nurses demand better security following attack on colleague

 

President of the Nurses Association of Jamaica (NAJ) Patsy Edwards Henry is urging the authorities to implement better safety measures for healthcare workers.

 

The call follows an attack on a nurse at the May Pen Hospital on Sunday night.

 

The nurse was struck in the head by a stone thrown by a mentally ill man who was being escorted onto the hospital compound about 10:30 p.m.

 

Nurses at the hospital protested on Monday against the attack on their colleague and the need for greater security measures. 

 

"The Nurses Association again calls on the authorities to...put measures in place to ensure that the safety of our staff is in place. It's difficult when you have a nurse having to work a 7-3, a 2-10 and to go home and she's attacked," the NAJ president lamented. 

 

Mrs Edwards Henry said a probe will be launched into the circumstances surrounding why the mentally challenged man was left unsupervised at the gate of the compound. 

 

"We are looking into how the gentleman got to the gate. Some persons have a theory that his relatives came with him, others are saying the police, but we are trying to find out the root cause and to find out exactly how he got to the gate," she said, noting that in either case, leaving the man unsupervised was inappropriate. 

 

Mrs. Edwards Henry said the wounded nurse is "in good spirits", adding that the NAJ stands ready to assist her or other nurses at the hospital. 

 

In an interview with Radio Jamaica News earlier on Monday, a nurse at May Pen Hospital alleged that security personnel did not provide any assistance while her colleague was being chased by the mentally ill man. 

 

"How could it be that this nurse ran through two security posts without being assisted?" she questioned. She said it was an elderly man who came to assistance of her colleague. 

 

"He is now admitted in the A&E department, while the nurse was badly beaten, her skull has been fractured and she is now admitted in the hospital."

 

The nurse called for a complete overhaul and tightening of the hospital's security system, warning, "Without proper security, no care."

 

The attacker has since been admitted as a patient at the hospital.

 

 

Senior Medical Officer at May Pen Hospital Bradley Edwards has said stricter security measures have been implemented following the attack on the nurse. 

 

Following a meeting on Monday, the hospital decided that, starting immediately, staff members on the night shift who are leaving the compound will be accompanied by security officers to their vehicles or point of pick up.

 

"Two, police officers that are assigned to the police post at the hospital will be doing increased partols, and three, the May Pen Police have agreed to increase mobile patrol on the compound. All these measures, apart from number one, have been implemented. It's just that we'll be increasing the number of patrols on the compound," Mr. Edwards explained. 

 

He said psychological support will also be provided to the hospital's staff, who he admitted have been "severely traumatised" by the incident.

 

 

Chairman of the Southern Regional Health Authority (SRHA) Wayne Chen has expressed concern over the attack on the nurse, calling it "deeply upsetting". 

 

He has also admitted that the security arrangement at May Pen Hospital has been of major concern for years.

 

In an interview with Radio Jamaica News on Monday afternoon, Mr. Chen said he understands the frustrations of the protesting nurses following the attack on their colleague.

 

He said a further review is to be conducted on the security arrangements at May Pen Hospital.