According to recent figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), there were more than 848 assaults against nurses and midwives in the first three months of 2023.
Nurses and midwives were the targets of more than 62% of all attacks recorded to the HSE in the first quarter of this year..
INMO general secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha described the findings as “completely unacceptable”, adding: “No other profession sees this level of abuse levelled at them”.
“The continued acceptance of intolerable hospital overcrowding is creating an environment in our hospitals that is allowing physical, verbal and sexual assault against our members to manifest,” she added.
The government recently announced that it will increase the maximum punishment for assaults on gardas and emergency service personnel, including nurses. The data coincide with this announcement. According to the proposed legislation, the maximum punishment for such actions will rise from seven to twelve years.
The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) is being urged by the INMO to take action by conducting more inspections. A prosecution of employers who “fail to keep staff safe” is another demand made by the association.
They propose that the HSA should form a dedicated division to handle the health service.
Ms Ní Sheaghdha said, “Assault prevention and de-escalation measures must be strengthened. It must be made clear that once you step foot in a hospital that there is zero tolerance for any kind of verbal, physical or sexual assault.
“Hospitals are workplaces, as well as places of care. No worker should have to put up with this level of abuse in the workplace,” Ms Ní Sheaghdha added.