This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/health/6244068.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Nurse 'verbally abused' every day | Nurse 'verbally abused' every day |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A staff nurse at a Northern Ireland hospital has said he has been attacked four times in the last five years. | A staff nurse at a Northern Ireland hospital has said he has been attacked four times in the last five years. |
| Joe Mottram, who works in the casualty department of Altnagelvin hospital in Londonderry, said he has also faced verbal abuse on a daily basis. | Joe Mottram, who works in the casualty department of Altnagelvin hospital in Londonderry, said he has also faced verbal abuse on a daily basis. |
| It comes as Health Minister Michael McGimpsey announces a new zero tolerance policy to combat attacks on health care workers. | It comes as Health Minister Michael McGimpsey announces a new zero tolerance policy to combat attacks on health care workers. |
| In the past year, there have been 6,000 cases of abuse against medical staff. | In the past year, there have been 6,000 cases of abuse against medical staff. |
| Mr Mottram welcomed the move by the health minister, but said he did not think it would work. | Mr Mottram welcomed the move by the health minister, but said he did not think it would work. |
| "We've had zero tolerance within the hospital here for a time. I would be sceptical of zero tolerance again. | "We've had zero tolerance within the hospital here for a time. I would be sceptical of zero tolerance again. |
| "How is that going to work is what I would ask the minister. How is he physically going to stop this? | "How is that going to work is what I would ask the minister. How is he physically going to stop this? |
| "Yes, zero tolerance, but it is a bit late when you have been assaulted or you have been physically abused. Who is going to stop the person doing it again?" | "Yes, zero tolerance, but it is a bit late when you have been assaulted or you have been physically abused. Who is going to stop the person doing it again?" |
| The head of Altnagelvin's casualty department said the courts should treat attacks against health care workers differently from other assaults. | |
| Alan McKinney, who was once knocked unconscious by a patient, said people who attack hospital staff should be automatically sent to prison. |