The safety of hospital and clinic staff across the nation has been thrust into the spotlight, with more than 200 reported incidents of attacks or threats against medical personnel occurring over the past two years.
Shockingly, over half of these distressing incidents unfolded in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).
These alarming statistics were brought to public attention following a parliamentary question posed by the Democratic Alliance (DA), revealing a disconcerting reality surrounding the safety of medical staff in the country.
Of particular concern are incidents that occurred within Northern KwaZulu-Natal where patients attacked medical staff in various ways. These cases were brought forward by Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla’s response to the DA, shedding light on specific attacks within the region:
- Niemeyer Memorial Hospital, Utrecht: One incident involved a mentally ill patient attacking a nurse with a drip stand while under 72-hour observation. An investigating officer has been appointed to conduct a thorough investigation since 23 November 2023.
- Vryheid Hospital: A staggering 14 incidents were reported, primarily involving nursing staff being attacked by psychiatric patients.
- Ladysmith Regional Hospital: Seven incidents occurred, including assaults on staff members by mental health care patients on separate occasions. A Medical Officer was also pushed and fell against an iron bar.
- Estcourt Hospital: Three reported cases where two security guards and a nurse were assaulted by a mental health care user brought in for admission.
- Madadeni Regional Hospital: Nine incidents took place, with eight staff members being attacked by mental health care users. The ninth incident involved a stray bullet penetrating the clinic window, previously reported by Newcastillian News in May 2023. The incident implicated Newcastle Municipality’s Mayor, Cllr Xolani Dube’s bodyguards. To read more about the incident, click here.
Furthermore, the DA’s Michele Clarke expressed grave concerns, stating, “Public health personnel have enough on their plates with broken and dangerous infrastructure, staff shortages, medicine stockouts, and broken equipment, to name just a few. They should not also have to deal with robberies at gunpoint, physical, verbal, and sexual abuse, death threats, or violence of any other kind. These staff provide a vital service to communities and the Minister must do more to ensure their safety while on public health facility premises.”
Clarke additionally highlighted the vital role these staff members play in communities and called on the Minister to enhance safety measures within public health facilities. She revealed that the Office of Health Standards Compliance (OHSC) includes security reviews in their ideal clinic checks.
As a result, the DA plans to submit a follow-up parliamentary question to determine how many facilities passed their OHSC security reviews.
“The Minister needs to prioritise the safety of clinic and hospital staff,” urged Clarke, emphasising that failure to do so could worsen the critical shortage and steady exodus of medical professionals in the country.
As the situation at medical facilities in Northern KwaZulu-Natal, as well as those across the country, poses a grim situation, the Health Minister’s response did not come without solutions.
His solutions for the NKZN incidents included opening cases and increasing security at medical facilities. At a local level, the following additional solutions were added:
- In Utrecht, referrals of violent /disruptive mentally ill patients will be designated immediately to psychiatric facilities.
- In Vryheid, the Health Minister’s response showed that further assistance by Security Guards to medical staff was provided. In addition, psychotic patients would now be secluded.
- At Madadeni Hospital, a risk assessment of the staff’s work environment was conducted by a Safety Officer and risks were identified and will now be addressed. The staff members were also referred to an Occupational Health Madadeni doctor.
- Measures in Ladysmith and Estcourt will include, Health Risk Assessments being done every quarter. There will also be ongoing staff training on the management of aggressive patients. Furthermore, there will be an increase in security in Mental Health Care Wards.
As a series of steps are being taken in both NKZN and other medical facilities across the country, with the DA demanding more be done, the seriousness of the situation cannot be ignored.
To access the full response on hospital staff being attacked statistics, click the link —->RNW3768-2023-11-24
What are your thoughts on the above mentioned? Share your views in the comment section below.
One Response
They have failed to mention the incidents of harm and death of the family members of the mental health persons, by the mentally impaired. There is a huge rise in untreated mental disorders for different reasons. It is so easy to treat if the people have access.