Patient violence ongoing

An official meeting to discuss violence at Christchurch’s main mental health facility was held yesterday, hours after a patient punched a security guard there. Police were called to Hillmorton Hospital about 9.40am yesterday. The guard, who was punched in the face, was taken to Christchurch Hospital for treatment.

Stuff understands the man intervened in an altercation, described by sources as a ‘‘brawl’’. Violence has been an ongoing issue at the hospital. ACC figures show mental health staff made nearly 200 claims for assault-related injuries in the past three years. In two recent incidents within the space of a week, a nurse suffered serious burns after a patient threw boiling water over her and another nurse was stabbed. Health and safety regulator WorkSafe has said it will investigate.