Johannesburg – Patients – some of them mentally ill – have punched and bitten more than 60 hospital staffers, the Gauteng Legislature has revealed.
Jack Bloom, the Democratic Alliance Gauteng Shadow Health MEC, on Wednesday, said: “Gauteng hospital staff have suffered 61 attacks by patients since January last year, mostly by those who are mentally ill.”
Bloom added: “This is revealed by Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko in a written reply to my questions in the Gauteng Legislature”.
He said Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital had the most attacks, with 21 assaults on staff who were injured on various parts of their bodies.
“Many nurses were punched in the face, and a security guard was hit in the groin,” Bloom said.
There were seven attacks on staff at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, including two nurses and a speech therapist who were bitten on their fingers.
Two smaller hospitals, Carletonville and Far East Rand (FAR) had nine attacks each – five of the staff at FAR were bitten by patients.
“According to the MEC, most attacks are by Mental Health Care Users, others are linked to anger at staff for various reasons such as refusal to buy them items, patients trying to escape, or involved in criminal activity,” Bloom said.
“Angry relatives are another danger to hospital staff.”
Bloom said at Bertha Gxowa Hospital, a nurse was punched in the face at the casualty reception area by escorts of the patient demanding immediate attention for their injured friend.
“It is distressing that so many hospital workers are attacked while trying to assist patients,” said Bloom.
“Security needs to be beefed up, with specialised facilities for mentally ill patients at hospitals where this is lacking to minimise the risk of violence against staff.”
