Calls for nurses to be issued with cameras as assaults by patients soar
Members of clinical staff work at computers in the Accident and Emergency department of the Royal Albert Edward Infirmary in Wigan, north west England on April 2, 2015. More than 70,000 hospital workers are assaulted every year, according to National Health Service records. PHOTO | OLI SCARFF | AFP
What you need to know:
At the annual conference of the Royal College of Nursing in Belfast last week, it was proposed that nurses should wear body cameras as the police and fire crews do.
Nurse Sarah Seeley from Ipswich said some hospitals had trialled it and noted a reduction in assaults.
- She said nurses have been stalked, stabbed and even had their eyes gouged. Wearing body cameras might make people feel safer and de-escalate situations.
Nurse Shelley Pearce was dealing with a woman who had been admitted to hospital on an alcohol detoxification programme. When the nurse said she couldn’t leave, the patient smashed a piece of plastic, put the sharp edge to Shelley’s neck and marched her to the elevator.
It was only by pressing the alarm button in the lift that the nurse was able to alert security.
Shelley’s experience is not unique. More than 70,000 hospital workers are assaulted every year, according to National Health Service records.
HORRENDOUS
“It happens on a daily basis,” Shelley said, noting that this was not the only time she had been assaulted. The first time was being head-butted by a drug user.
Shelley works as an A&E nurse at a hospital in the south of England. She said, “there are some horrendous stories about assaults that staff have to endure.
“We have mental health patients coming into hospital in crisis, we have drunk patients and those with head injuries, and some people are just not very nice.”
She added, “I have thought about giving up nursing but it is a job I love. I just don’t think we should live in fear and under the threat of assault.”
STABBED
At the annual conference of the Royal College of Nursing in Belfast last week, it was proposed that nurses should wear body cameras as the police and fire crews do. Nurse Sarah Seeley from Ipswich said some hospitals had trialled it and noted a reduction in assaults.
“We need a robust deterrent,” she said. “Nurses have been stalked, stabbed and even had their eyes gouged. Wearing body cameras might make people feel safer and de-escalate situations.”
* * *
Matthew Moseley shot a neighbour in the chest during a row, then handed the gun to his son and said, “Tell them you’ve done it.”
The boy made a false confession to police and Moseley stayed silent as the 14-year-old was led away in handcuffs.
Preston Crown Court heard that there had been an ongoing dispute between Moseley, aged 50, and the neighbour, Lee Holt, about their children and when a confrontation took place, Moseley fired a Beretta semi-automatic at point-blank range, killing Holt.
FATAL SHOT
In a secret recording in a prison van, Moseley said to his son, “You are a minor. You can’t go to any jail… me, different ball game, and that is the way we have to go with this.”
Later, however, the boy told police the truth that his father fired the fatal shot
Judge Simon Bryan said, “how any father could do that to their son is difficult to comprehend… you allowed your son to be arrested and questioned on suspicion of murder when all along you knew you had shot him.”
Moseley was given a life sentence for murder and ordered to serve at least 26 years in prison.
* * *
Almost four in ten adults believe carrots help you to see in the dark, turkey makes you sleepy, chocolate gives you acne and chewing gum takes seven years to digest.
BALONEY
All baloney, say researchers who organised a study of 2,000 Britons and their beliefs in food myths.
Some old wives’ tales do contain an element of truth. Does fish make you clever? It certainly contains fatty acids which are good for the brain. Do spicy foods give you ulcers? Maybe not, but too much strong spice is certainly not good for your insides.
As for grandma’s advice to rub a drop or two of brandy on a baby’s gums when it is teething, don’t do it. Strong liquor is toxic for tiny children.
* * *
Two women were discussing their husbands. One said sadly, “It seems like all Joe and I do is fight. I’ve been so upset lately, I’ve lost sixteen pounds.” Said her friend, “Why don’t you leave him?”
15 POUNDS
“Not yet. I want to lose another fifteen pounds first.”
* * *
When her late husband’s will was read out, a widow discovered that he had left all his money to another woman. Furious, she tried to have the inscription on his tombstone changed, but the mason said, “Sorry, I already inscribed Rest in Peace as you asked and I can’t change that.” “No problem,” said the widow. “Just add, Until We Meet Again.”
* * *
Husband and Wife wars are increasingly fought on Twitter these days, e.g. “My wife asked me what I wanted for dinner then told me I was wrong,” and “My husband is home sick from work today and it’s like having a thousand babies.”
Well, better than the divorce court.
