2 attacks daily on psychiatric nurses - survey

There was an average of two assaults a day on psychiatric nurses last year, according to a survey published yesterday. The survey by the Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) found that their members suffered 893 assaults last year - 856 in psychiatric services and the remainder in learning-disability services.

The PNA called for a compensation scheme for psychiatric nurses who sustain personal injury.

Examples of assaults were outlined by the PNA at a press conference in Dublin yesterday. One nurse was assaulted three times by the same patient. In the final assault, her life was saved by the intervention of a male colleague. She tried to return to work but was forced to retire due to post-traumatic stress disorder.

Another nurse was head-butted by a patient in the face and suffered serious nerve and facial damage. A 33-year-old nurse was grabbed by her hair by a female patient, who lifted her off the ground and threw her across a bed, injuring her back and neck.

Post-traumatic stress disorder was frequently experienced by these nurses, said Mr Des Kavanagh, PNA general secretary. He knew of nurses who tried to return to work after an attack, only to break down on the steps of the hospital.

The highest number of assaults was recorded at St Otteran's Hospital, Waterford, where 119 attacks took place last year. St Ita's Hospital, in Portrane, Dublin, recorded 116 assaults while 107 assaults were recorded in St Brendan's Hospital in Dublin.

Some 39 nurses have retired early since 1993 due to assaults, while 35 are currently on long-term sick leave. A combination of factors was responsible for the increase in the number of serious assaults, Mr Kavanagh said.

The liberalisation of services meant that fewer locked wards were used and the administration of tranquillising drugs was also reduced.

"We've moved forward in terms of care. Unfortunately in doing that we've increased the risk for nurses," Mr Kavanagh said.

Staff cutbacks and the increase in the number of female psychiatric nurses also heightened the risk of serious injury, Mr Kavanagh said. Up to 80 per cent of psychiatric nurses were now female, he said.

Mr Kavanagh said nurses were being totally disadvantaged because of the lack of compensation for personal injuries.

"If a Garda is injured by assault by a patient or client of the psychiatric service or, indeed, any other party whilst carrying out escort duty, then the Garda has a statutory legal right under the Garda Compensation Acts to full compensation, including general and special damages," he said.

However, if a psychiatric nurse were injured in the same incident, he would not have similar rights.

The PNA is meeting the Minister for Health in the coming weeks to seek a compensation scheme and to seek help in setting up a task force on preventing these attacks.