The number of criminal incidents being carried out in hospitals across the country have dramatically increased, new figures have revealed.
A total of 1,052 cases were reported to gardai so far this year compared to 862 last year – an increase of 190 incidents. It is understood the vast majority of cases are physical attacks and abuse against nurses, doctors, porters and security staff. A handful of cases entail fighting between rival patients waiting to be treated,
Although the figures don’t reveal where exactly most of the attacks took place in the hospitals, gardai privately admit the biggest number by far are occurring in the Accident and Emergency wards. Booze and drugs are blamed for the vast majority of the incidents.
Read more: Irish Rail announce late-night DART and commuter train timetable for Christmas
Acting Justice Minister Heather Humphreys confirmed there were 4,862 criminal incidents recorded in hospitals over the past five years. The worst area in the country was Dublin South Central followed by 90 at Dublin North Central, and 70 in Limerick.
Cavan-Monaghan had the lowest number of hospital attacks with 21. The statistics were taken from the Garda Pulse system up until November 23, 2022. The figures collated every criminal incident reported with the word hospital in them.
There were 1,067 incidents reported in 2018, 1,100 in 2019 and 981 in 2020. Only last July the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation publicly called for increased security at hospitals to protect staff.
It claims that over five nurses a day are being physically, verbally or sexually abused in Irish hospitals and it is totally unacceptable. General Secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha said: “Nurses are facing the brunt of physical and verbal aggression in hospitals. In some cases our members are victims of career ending assault.
“The pressure cooker type environment that our members work in is leading to more assaults. This means that the frontline staff are being put at risk by conditions they are not responsible for.
“We need 24-hour security in all areas of our hospitals.”
READ NEXT:
- Ryanair boss 'very concerned' that Dublin Airport may not have enough security staff for Christmas
- Free Santa experience at Liffey Valley along with €500 voucher for one lucky family
- Popular Dublin Airport Hopper service to return in December under new management
- Terrifying footage of teens 'scutting' on back of Dublin Bus emerges
- Dublin Bus routes curtailed in Tallaght and Clondalkin due to anti social behaviour
