Hospital staff still continue to face abuse
HEALTH TRUST’S PLEA TO VISITORS
THEY go to work to care for people, but because visitors don’t agree with new hospital rules, doctors and nurses continue to face vile abuse.
A desperate plea for the abuse to stop has now been made as the problem stretches into almost every area of both Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital.
Staff everywhere from the Women and Children’s Hospital, outpatient services, A&E and even the Queen’s Centre, which provides care for the poorliest cancer patients are facing abuse, a year into the pandemic.
In a lengthy post, a hospital spokeswoman said: “Six weeks into the new year, one year into the Covid pandemic, and it still saddens us to say our staff continue to receive abuse from members of the public.
“It’s not the norm by any stretch; it’s small scale, but it’s upsetting for the staff who are on the receiving end, just trying to do a good job.
“Sadly, this behaviour has been stretching into almost all of our hospitals and services in recent months.”
The spokesperson said it is sometimes about wearing a face covering, but most often the abuse is about accompanying people to appointments.
She added: “Sometimes it’s about wearing a face covering, but more often it’s about accompanying people to appointments at a time when we’re asking all but the most vulnerable patients to arrive and attend alone.
“We ask this for good reason. It’s not to be difficult. We have reduced the amount of seats in our waiting areas to support social distancing and enable our patients to feel safe while inside our hospitals.
“Only people who need to be here should be inside our buildings. That means, for the majority of patients, their loved ones must wait outside while the appointment or treatment is carried out.”
It says: “If it were your loved one who was ill or vulnerable to infection, you’d expect us to keep them safe. You’d also want other people who have the potential to transmit Covid-19 to keep away from them as far as possible.
“We kindly ask that you offer others that same courtesy.
“According to government figures, as many as one in three people could have Covid-19 without knowing it, but still be able to pass it on.
“We don’t want any of the people in our care to be on the receiving end, but nor do we want our staff to receive threats or abuse for trying to protect them.
“They come to work to care for people. If you are worried about your loved one or they have a genuine need for assistance at their appointment, please discuss this with a member of staff before the date of the visit.”