Doctor Doug Eyolfson a Winnipeg member of Parliament who experienced violence first-hand in his work says violent incidents in hospitals are on the rise and he wants the Canadian government to get involved.

Eyolfson, who was punched in the face by his patient, developed a petition calling for the health minister to create a pan-Canadian framework investigating the causes of health-care violence, and to develop a strategy to address growing violence against Canadian health-care workers.

“It’s something that’s been going on for years, and has been more or less accepted as part of the health-care environment,” Eyolfson said. “But it’s been increasing tremendously over the last few years.”

One of the reasons for the spike in violent incidents, according to Eyolfson is methamphetamine use. Which can cause violent and prolonged psychosis, “Some of my colleagues have said they’re dealing with one violent incident a day in some departments.”

Violence against health-care workers is under-reported

Violence against workers in health-care settings like hospitals, is an under-reported, ubiquitous and persistent problem, says an article published in the New England Journal of Medicine. And what’s worse it’s a problem that’s been tolerated and largely ignored.

The head of the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions, Linda Silas, says punching, biting and scratching are “typical physical violence,” but now there’s also “a lot of the bullying and harassment,”

Last year at the Montreal General Hospital an aggressive patient turned an overnight shift into a nearly fatal encounter when he attacked a nurse.

READ MORE: Montreal Gazette – Nurse attacked by a patient in the Psychiatric ER of the Montreal General Hospital

Earlier this year the staff of the Operating Room at the Montreal General Hospital presented a signed petition to the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) administration requesting their safety concerns be addressed.

READ MORE: Security supervisor fired at Montreal General Hospital after petition

SOURCE