The spate of physical violence in our society has increased tremendously, daily; the media is inundated with the news of all forms of assaults. It seems as if people have not taken lessons from all this reportage as it keeps rising astronomically. Unfortunately, this ugly trend has not spared healthcare workers and this is a dangerous position that must be discouraged.
The recent happening at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) wherein the relative of a patient, who was presented with a gunshot injury, assaulted the staff has brought the discourse to the fore again. In the process of trying to resuscitate the patient, the relative attacked three nurses and a doctor in the line of work. In fact, one of the nurses had a deep cut on the head, while one was almost stripped naked. However, the security personnel of the hospital later got him arrested.
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With the significant rise in the population of Lagos, both in number and in age, the waiting time to see a doctor gets longer in both the emergency room and the wards. These frequent acts of violence against employees can have an effect on their morale over time. Eighty percent of the emergency physicians say that patients threaten them or threaten to return to the emergency department to harm them.
Although the hospital has put up “zero tolerance” signs, patients and their relatives do not adhere to this instruction. With the various ways of escalating the pain of patients and their relatives to the hospital management, people still find it easier to be violent rather than engage with the management team.
According to the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Professor Adetokunbo Fabamwo, with the level of innovative solutions that LASUTH is bringing to Lagosians through its dedicated healthcare workers, it can only be done in an atmosphere free of chaos and agitation. Violence against healthcare workers is unacceptable. It harms the psychological and physical well-being of the staff and also affects their job motivation.
As a responsible workplace, LASUTH has continued to investigate workplace violence incidents, risks, or hazards; provide training and education to employees who may be exposed to workplace violence hazards and risks; meet record-keeping requirements; and prohibit acts of discrimination or retaliation against employees for reporting workplace violence incidents, threats, or concerns.
It has become expedient, therefore, for policymakers, hospital managers, and supervisors to work collaboratively to minimise workplace violence and ensure the safety and psychophysical stability of all healthcare workers in Lagos and the nation at large.
Olutayo Irantiola can be reached via peodavies @hotmail.com
