Hospital security criticised after attack on nurse
The Irish Nurses Organisation has accused St Vincent's Hospital in Dublin of failing to take adequate measures to protect its staff.
The accusation follows an serious assault on a nurse by a patient in the hospital's accident and emergency unit this week.
The Indian nurse suffered head and neck injuries in the attack on Tuesday night, leaving her traumatised and in need of medical treatment.
INO spokesman Philip McAnenly said today that no security staff were present during the assault.
"The response from a security point of view was inadequate," he said.
"The first person to come to the assistance of the nurse who was assaulted was another patient who was waiting to be seen.
"Following that, she was assisted by relatives who were present in the waiting area.
"Some nurses heard the commotion and came to her assistance, medical staff rushed to the area and then finally security arrived."
