More violence at St. Joe’s

[projekktor id=’22737′]

There’s been another assault at St. Joe’s hospital in Hamilton involving patients and staff members, it’s the 7th incident in the last two months.

The staff member is recovering at home after having coffee thrown at them by a patient. The assault happened at the psychiatric facility at the West 5th campus. The staff member suffered burns to their face and neck and was treated on-site. The patient was not charged.

This is the latest incident of aggressive patient behaviour or violence towards staff since early December. The union representing Ontario nurses say it is appalled at the number of violent attacks.

In an attack on December 16, two nurses were repeatedly punched in the head by a patient. One nurse was left unconscious, both were taken by ambulance to the hospital’s Charlton Campus for emergency treatment.

St. Joesph’s has reported over 120 cases of violence against registered nurses since January of last year. The hospital says all nurses are equipped with a personal alarm system that is attached to their lanyard.

“In this particular case that button failed and it failed because the battery died.” Romeo Cercone from St. Joseph’s Hospital.

The hospital says even if the button worked the attack happened so fast it would have been impossible to prevent.