Get tough on the RAH yobs
Public say thugs who target medics should be jailed
15.05.2017 Yobs have been blasted after a string of violent attacks on medics on wards in Paisley.
Tougher penalties have been demanded for those abusing staff at the Royal Alexandra Hospital.
This comes after a doctor was allegedly pummelled by a brute while carrying out rounds and another had blood spat in their face.
Pe o p l e f rom acro s s Renfrewshire took to the Paisley Daily Express Facebook page to speak up about thugs targeting health workers.
Stuart Weir has called for automatic prison stints for anybody found guilty of causing trouble.
He said: “Jail anyone who causes a scene at the hospital.
“The ones who attack staff should be jailed for a minimum of a year.
“Doctors’ and nurses’ jobs are hard enough without scum like this causing trouble.
“There are very sick people in A&E and any elderly people in the vicinity would be very frightened.”
Last week, Ross Docherty, 30, was caged for 10 months for a three-hour rampage which ended when he spat on a casualty doctor on March 7.
Margaret Gibson slammed “disgraceful and shameful behaviour” of this kind.
She said: “Any violence against anyone should come with stiffer sentences and no excuses allowed.
“If you commit a violent crime against anyone, you should pay the price.”
As previously revealed by the Express, doctors, nurses and paramedics were subjected to almost 200 physical assaults in just 11 months.
Wilma Matthews says medical treatment should be refused for those lashing out.
She said: “If they can beat someone up trying to help them, there cannot be much wrong with them. Doctors, nurses and NHS staff do a good job.
“It is unbelievable that this should happen while carrying out their duties.”
Police have also come under fire when taking suspects to the Corsebar Road centre to be checked out.
John Paul Barrett, 27, was handed 100 days in prison after sparking a rammy while he was being treated for a drugs overdose.
And Kieran Craig, 24, was locked up for a similar stretch for abusing cops ensuring he received treatment.
Jane Stewart Condie says she has first-hand experience of the challenges face by emergency teams.
She said: “I work at the RAH and I am hearing of more and more assaults on the staff. The doctors and nurses should be able to do a shift without scumbags wreaking havoc.”
Police Scotland insisted it has a zero-tolerance approach to those responsible.
Health chiefs are encouraging staff to report all incidents of violence to their bosses police, and say they will pursue prosecutions.