McCarthy alarmed at rise in health staff attacks

Alliance Health spokesperson Kieran McCarthy MLA has expressed his alarm at the rise in the number of attacks on health staff in the period October 2008 – March 2009.There was 3,622 attacks on staff during this period, a rise of 400.

Kieran McCarthy MLA said: “I am alarmed that there has been an increase in the number of attacks in health staff. These attacks must not be tolerated.

“I would urge the Health Minister to use all available resources to combat this growing problem. I am glad that there is currently a zero tolerance policy towards attacks on health staff, something that these figures show should be continued.

“These attacks are preventing health staff from carrying out their job at a time when the health budget is already under extreme pressure.”

ENDS