Attacked nurses being counselled

UPDATE:

TWO nurses who were attacked by a male patient on Ward 32 at the Port of Spain General Hospital last Sunday night are receiving counselling. This was revealed by the Wendy Ali, CEO of the North West Regional Authority (NWRHA) yesterday.

Ali said after receiving a report, security guards have been increased on the ward. “What we have done is strengthen our security presence in terms of the number of officers on the floor, But again, one must understand it was a patient, who was ill, and the way in which the reaction happened is something we did not plan for.

“We are providing counselling to our two nurses who would have been in the incident.” When asked if the NWRHA is taking into consideration the registered nursing association’s request to replace the private security firm with MTS security officers or estate police, Ali said replacing one firm with another is not the answer.

“What we had to do was to ensure there is a continuous presence there, and we have done that.
There is a presence on that floor other than the roving up and down of security officers. “The two nurses have been referred to our EAP (Employee Assistance Programme).”

However, the president of the Registered Nurses Association, Idi Stewart, told Newsday the association is not satisfied with the decision and is standing by its call to have the private security firms removed and replaced.

Stewart said the incident has become a recurring situation.
“Although the patient has been removed from the ward and we have gone through similar incidents in the past.
We are standing firm with our demand. “The security officers will be there and after a couple of weeks they will return to normal. We are not comforted with this short-term measure. We are still holding firm: it should be MTS guards or estate police at all hospitals.”

ORIGINAL STORY:

TWO nurses who were attacked by a male patient on Ward 32 of Port of Spain General Hospital last Sunday night are receiving counselling, Wendy Ali, CEO of the North West Regional Authority (NWRHA) confirmed today.

Ali said that after receiving a report, security guards have been increased on the ward. “What we have done is strengthen our security presence in terms of the number of officers on the floor but again one must understand it was a patient who was ill and, the way in which the reaction happened is something we did not plan for something like that. We are providing counselling to our two nurses who would have been in the incident," Ali said.

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