“BRUTAL ASSAULT” On A Health Care Worker In Spain’s Granada

A SPANISH health care worker suffered a “brutal assault” during a home visit last Sunday in Spain’s Granada.

As reported in a statement, the events took place around 22:30 when a call to 061 alerted the Health Emergency Service to assist with an incident in a residential home in the capital.

The emergency services and a team from the National Police were deployed to the area where they came across a man exhibiting aggressive behaviour. Refusing help, the man proceeded to lock himself in the bathroom and threatened to jump out the window.

After being reduced by the agents, the man was escorted to the lift of the building where he then reacted with a “brutal and unexpected” aggression towards the technician who was accompanying him. The health personnel received blows to the head and face, resulting in a fractured nose.

The CSIF union (Independent Trade Union and Officials’ Central. Autonomous Union of Andalusia) has expressed this Wednesday its “maximum rejection” to the “brutal” aggression suffered by the health care professional. According to the CSIF, the corresponding protocol has been activated, making available to the victim legal services and psychological care.

The CSIF took the opportunity to stress to the public that aggression is never the solution and that this type of physical and verbal incident against professionals of the public health system, who simply look after the health and well-being of the public, are considered an attack on authority.

For its part, the Board’s Health Delegation in Granada has condemned the aggression and reported that, following what happened, it implemented the procedure established for these cases and has provided legal advice to the professional concerned.

As Euro Weekly News understands, during the past year there have been 13 attacks on professionals in Andalusia from 061 in which 15 health professionals have been affected (73% men and 26% women). Additionally in the last two years five sentences have been handed down against acts of this type, with sentences ranging from one to three years’ imprisonment.