Two staff members working in the Accident and Emergency Department at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital were injured during a violent incident last weekend.
The attack happened on Sunday morning at approximately 11am, when a hospital in-patient allegedly assaulted a male nurse and a member of the cleaning staff. It is understood the attacker attempted to choke both workers before being restrained and later sedated by medical staff.
Both victims sustained minor injuries, including bruising. They received treatment at the hospital but did not require admission. However, the incident left colleagues and witnesses deeply shaken.
During the disturbance, a door was also damaged as the two staff members tried to defend themselves.
The incident has been strongly condemned by local Sinn Féin councillor Debbie McCole, who is also a paramedic and regularly works in the Lourdes Hospital A&E Department. Following the assault, a number of staff members contacted her to raise serious concerns about safety.
Councillor McCole said she wished to offer her sympathy and best wishes to those injured, describing the incident as “deeply distressing and traumatic” for the staff involved.
She added that violence of any kind towards healthcare workers is “completely unacceptable”, stressing that staff come to work to care for vulnerable people and are entitled to do so in a safe environment. She said she strongly condemned the attack and reaffirmed her support for frontline staff and their safety.
The HSE stated that it could not comment on individual cases or patient care.
It comes as 24-hour security has recently been reinstated at the Lourdes Hospital A&E Department, after previously being reduced between midnight and midday.
