Naples.
Yesterday afternoon, around 16 pm, yet another episode of violence against health workers took place in the Emergency Room of theVecchio Pellegrini Hospital of Naples. Anurse and a healthcare assistant (OSS) were attacked by a patient who had accompanied her husband, who was being treated for a green code.
As reported by the association Nessuno Tocchi Ippocrate, the attack occurred in the Triage area. The woman, who had previously been authorized to enter the medical areas to speak with her husband, did not appreciate the umpteenth invitation from the health workers to move away to allow medical assistance.
At that point, the patient reacted with verbal and physical violence, threatening, insulting and physically attacking the nurse and the OSS. Only the intervention of the security guards managed to calm the woman's fury and avoid the worst.
Unfortunately, yesterday's episode highlights once again the lack of security within hospitals. Episodes often reported in the Naples news in recent years.
The internal police squad Old Pellegrini, which on paper should be active every day, was not operational at the time of the attack, due to a lack of officers to deploy.
This is an unacceptable situation that puts the safety of healthcare workers and patients at risk. Immediate action is needed to strengthen police presence inside hospitals and to ensure the protection of those who work there and those who go to these facilities to receive care.
Article published on 3 June 2024 - 08:03