NHS Lanarkshire’s chief midwife has hit out after visitors to Wishaw General’s maternity unit subjected staff to verbal abuse.
The level of abuse has been so severe that senior midwives have decided to reduce the second visitor to two hours per day and by appointment only.
Cheryl Clark, NHS Lanarkshire chief midwife, told Lanarkshire Live : “We have worked tirelessly to get visiting back to what our parents and families want.
“However, over the last few months, the level of verbal abuse being directed at our staff in the maternity unit at Wishaw General has continued to rise.
“Our staff are being subject to vile language and abuse and in one instance staff were chased out a ward by family members not willing to leave.
“This not only affecting the staff but also having a negative impact on the care we strive to deliver at all times.
"To stop this abuse, one of the measures we are taking is that the second visitor will now only be able to attend by prior appointment and for a maximum of two hours.
“This was an extremely difficult decision but the result of the abuse means our staff are going off sick, crying on shift and it is affecting their mental health.
"It is sad to say that we have also increased security measures to ensure the safety of our staff and other families.
“I make a personal plea to all visitors and patients to our maternity unity - please be kind, please be compassionate and please be respectful to our staff and other families.”
Members of the public took to the NHS Lanarkshire Facebook page to show support to the maternity staff.
Carol King posted: “That is absolutely awful. Why are people so angry these days?”
Justine Docherty added: “What is wrong with people? So sorry our fantastic NHS staff have been treated like this, come on people get a grip.
“This should be the happiest time in your life welcoming a new wee miracle to the world, be reasonable, be happy, be kind.”
And Marie Doyle said: “This is absolutely appalling but sadly this is happening too often across all of NHS Lanarkshire.”
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