Union in hospital talks after attack

Frightened patients were moved to another ward

The health union Unison has met management at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast after a patient attacked staff and damaged a ward at the weekend.

The police were called and frightened patients had to be transferred to another ward during the incident on Sunday.

The patient, a man in his 40s, lifted a metal drip stand and lunged at the member of staff and drove it into the ceiling.

A computer was also damaged in the incident.

Patricia McKeown: "This is an increasing problem"

"The disturbing thing is that this is an increasing problem," said Patricia McKeown of Unison.

"I was also very distressed to find out that there are only psychiatric assistants available in circumstances like this Monday to Friday.

"At the weekend, staff who don't have the expertise to deal with patients of this nature, are left to control it or restrain it and that is something we will be speaking to the hospital about."

The hospital's director of nursing, Deirdre O'Brien, said the incident was intolerable.

"Some of these things are a reflection on our increasingly violent society," she said.

"What would not have been tolerable in the past outside the hospital, now apparently is day and daily occurrence.

"I have to say that it is absolutely unacceptable within a hospital.

"Nurses and doctors and other health professionals want to care for patients and should not be subjected to such harassment within the workplace."