A patient in the intensive care unit at Wolfson Hospital in Holon assaulted a doctor on Thursday night. This is the third case of violence against medical professionals this week, the hospital said.
The reason for the attack, during which the patient broke the doctor’s glasses, is not known. A complaint has been filed with the police.
Wolfson condemned the incident, stressing that such abuses should be dealt with severely by judicial authorities.
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“We use all the means at our disposal to ensure that the staff, who work day and night with dedication and professionalism for the well-being of the patients, are safe in their workplace,” said Dr. Anat Engel, CEO . “However, it is clear that this is a fight that must also be fought at the national level. »
The incident came after a strike by public hospitals and clinics on Thursday to protest repeated violence against doctors. During this time, services have been reduced, with weekend hours.
Illustrative: Nurses at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem demonstrate against violence against medical staff, July 4, 2018. (Courtesy Hadassah Ein Karem Hospital)
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Medical staff union president Professor Zion Hagay condemned Friday’s incident at Wolfson, warning that the union would take tougher action if nothing was done to end such attacks.
“Even before the end of the 24-hour strike to protest the violence in the health system, we have been informed of another serious incident, which occurred tonight at Wolfson Hospital,” said he declared. “I repeat that if concrete and effective measures are not taken in the coming week, we will not hesitate to intensify the fight until the safety of medical personnel returns. »
On Wednesday, staff at Galilee Hospital in Naharia were assaulted by family members of a deceased patient, injuring several guards and requiring police intervention.
Thursday’s strike was decided after the relatives of a patient who died on Monday attacked medical staff at Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem. Significant damage was inflicted on the intensive care unit.
Police said Friday they apprehended a man involved in the Hadassah assault.
Police said the suspect, a 48-year-old East Jerusalem resident, was taken to the police station for questioning. He was to be taken to court to be remanded in custody.
The intensive care unit at Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem, damaged by family members of a deceased patient, May 16, 2022. (Hadassah Spokesperson)
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The past few months have been marked by a large number of attacks on medical personnel and facilities across the country.
In November, nurses at Rambam Hospital in Haifa staged an hour-long strike to protest a violent incident in which staff members were beaten and threatened by the family of a dying cancer patient. .
Earlier the same month, Rambam said he had to evict dozens of people gathered outside the facility after a victim of violence was taken there for treatment. According to hospital officials, riot police were called to the scene to prevent the crowd from entering the hospital.
In Beer Sheva, four people were injured and 19 arrested in a fight outside Soroka Hospital, during which gunshots rang out.
In 2017, the most serious case ever reported, a man set fire to 55-year-old nurse Tova Kararo at her workplace in Holon Hospital.
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