Assaults on hospital staff in the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group ‘staggeringly high’ – Crowe

Speaking this afternoon, Dublin South West Sinn Féin TD, Seán Crowe, has said that the number of assaults on staff in Tallaght hospital is staggeringly high and the safety of staff needs to be better prioritised.

Deputy Seán Crowe said:

“The safety of the excellent staff in our health service as they discharge their duties is paramount. Any assault or attempted assault on a member of the health service as they try to do their job is unacceptable.

“Figures released to Sinn Féin show that in the first five months of the year 279 health service workers were assaulted – with 249 of those assaults being committed against nurses and midwives.

“In Dublin Midlands Hospital Group, which Tallaght hospital is part of, the number of assaults was a staggering 40.

“Nurses play a key role in the delivery of our public health services, and for them to face such high levels of assault is completely unacceptable.

“The HSE, and the Minister for Health, need to increase measures to reduce the number of assaults our nurses face.

“I urge the HSE to directly employ more security staff in the emergency department in Tallaght and throughout the hospital to ensure employees are protected.

“Workers in Tallaght hospital and across the heath service do an amazing job in caring for the health needs of the people and they deserve the right to be able to do their jobs without fear of facing assault.”

ENDS