Some 205 assaults causing significant or major injury to HSE staff were reported to the National Incident Management System (NIMS) last year. This was an increase from 177 such incidents in 2022.
This year, 122 of these incidents were recorded to the end of June. The data, which comprised of category 1 (‘major/extreme’) and category 2 (‘moderate’) incidents, was released under Freedom of Information law. It does not include assaults which the HSE categorised as causing ‘no harm’ or ‘minor harm’.
Twenty of the reported incidents between 2022 and the end of June 2024 were categorised as ‘major’. There were seven reports of verbal assaults.
According to HSE risk impact definitions, a ‘major’ incident results in major injuries/long-term incapacity or disability (eg, loss of limb) requiring medical treatment and/or counselling; and/or impaired psychosocial functioning greater than
six months.
A ‘moderate’ incident causes “significant injury requiring medical treatment” such as a fracture and/or a counselling requirement. This may involve more than three days’ absence from work; three to eight days in hospital; and/or impaired psychosocial functioning greater than one month and less than six months.
There were no incidents categorised as ‘extreme’ in the released data. These are incidents leading to death or major permanent incapacity.
For the first six months of 2024, some 117 HSE staff members were in receipt of entitlements through the HSE Serious Physical Assault Scheme at a cost of more than €911,000. Last year, 164 staff members accessed the scheme at a cost of €1.3 million.
The scheme ensures that staff absent from work – due to being assaulted in the course of their duties – receive their full pay/allowances for defined periods.
According to the HSE, staff are encouraged to report all near misses and incidents, including those that do not result in harm.
“There may also be multiple reports relating to the same incident,” the HSE spokesperson said.
“Ensuring the safety of employees and service users is a priority concern for the HSE. The HSE is committed to creating a safe environment within which to work or to
be treated.”
Earlier this year, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation obtained data which showed 4,016 nurses were assaulted verbally, physically, or sexually in a 13-month period (January 2023-February 2024).
“We know that this is a conservative figure as many nurses and midwives do not report these incidents, nor indeed do their employers,” stated INMO General Secretary Ms Phil Ní Sheaghdha at the time.
She said the HSE as an employer needed to “radically shift” its focus onto the safety of its employees. “It is imperative that each hospital reflects on its own security arrangements and what they are doing to keep nurses, midwives, and other frontline healthcare workers safe while at work.”
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