THE HEALTH Service Executive is investigating an incident in which it is claimed there was an assault by one doctor on another in the presence of a patient.
A male and female doctor who were on their rounds on a ward in Sligo General Hospital on Thursday morning apparently had an argument in front of a patient who was in bed.
Sources in the hospital said the discussion became heated, and the female doctor was seen to fall backwards clutching her forehead.
The woman was taken to the casualty unit and treated for an injury in the eye area.
The executive and gardaí are investigating, and hospital management referred calls about the incident to the executive.
HSE West said in a statement yesterday: “The HSE is aware of an alleged incident involving two staff members at Sligo General Hospital and we are currently in the process of establishing the facts in relation to the matter.”
“Once that process is complete, we will determine if further steps need to be taken.”
A Garda spokesman said: “Gardaí were called to Sligo hospital in connection with an incident involving two staff. Gardaí are still investigating the matter.”
The hospital employs more than 1,200 staff and caters for a growing population of 100,000-plus people for its general acute services and a population of 213,000 people for its regional services.