Bahraini doctors demand better security at hospitals

Manama: Senior doctors demanded on Friday security for medical teams after a drug addict hospitalised in the state-run hospital abused nurses in his ward and scared visitors on Thursday.

The incident was the sixth case this year, in which doctors and nurses were attacked by patients or their relatives at Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC) and health centres, according to a statement by Ministry of Health on Thursday.

Chairman of ENT Department at SMC and President of Bahrain Medical Society (BMS) Dr Ahmad Jamal told Gulf News on Friday that the attacks would not be tolerated as medical practice was noble and had to be respected.

"We cannot stop patients from turning violent as some of them are frustrated, hopeless or with psychological problems, but we can increase the number of guards working for the Ministry of Health to protect medical teams as well as patients who might hurt themselves."

Dr Ahmad demanded guards for wards and clinics and an increase in the number of guards in ER and Health centres due to frequency of verbal and physical attacks there.

"I don't know exactly if there is a shortage of guards or not but the frequent attacks indicate the need for more," he said.

Dr Ahmad said that the BMS had submitted a proposal to the ministry requesting them to hire more guards and suggest mechanisms to protect the safety of medical teams.

According to the statement, the sixth attack occurred when the attacker, a Bahraini in his thirties lost his temper when he was handed his discharge papers and medication without getting anti-narcotic medicine.

Administration Services at SMC Waleed Al Mana said in the statement that the man didn't need this medicine and when his request was turned down he began verbally abusing nurses and slammed doors.

Al Mana said that he broke windows and three doors before guards and the police took him away. He called upon patients and their visitors to respect rules and regulations.