Interior and Health Ministries Sign Memorandum to Protect Medical Staff (2)

Bratislava, 26 October (TASR) - The Interior Ministry and the Health Ministry have signed a memorandum of cooperation aimed at protecting health-care workers in response to recent attacks on medical staff in Bratislava, Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok, Health Minister Kamil Sasko (both Voice-SD) and Police Corps President Jana Maskarova told a press conference on Monday, adding that the two ministries intend to establish a coordinated approach. Sasko explained that he's due to hold talks with directors of state-run hospitals on Tuesday (27 October) regarding the implementation of basic security standards introduced by the Health Ministry last week. Health-care workers should have access to a panic button to call for help, for example. Responding to a journalist's question, Sasko said that addressing this issue with private hospitals is more complex, but he'll hold discussions with them as well. The signed memorandum should subsequently establish broader procedures. "The memorandum will bring in much more intensive cooperation and exchanges of information, contact persons, security procedures and staff training. All of this is covered by the memorandum," said Sasko, who also announced that a meeting with representatives of the self-governing regions will be convened. "We'll look for a solution to achieve the goal shared by all of us; that is, to protect our health-care workers and, of course, patients," he said, adding that the Health Ministry is ready to provide financial assistance to hospitals for introducing security measures, if necessary. Sutaj Estok pointed out that the memorandum was drawn up quickly following the incidents covered by the media. He added that the police responded by deploying more officers in the vicinity of accident and emergency departments at hospitals, and that there are plans to involve the gendarmerie as well. He added that prevention officers are also ready to help by providing training for health-care staff. "We'll educate patients as well, so that they won't remain indifferent at this time," he said, adding that attacks could also pose a threat to patients in hospitals. According to Maskarova, the police have recorded 32 cases of assaults on health-care workers over the past ten months, with 23 of them treated as criminal offences and nine as misdemeanours. The highest numbers were reported in Banska Bystrica and Trencin regions. "In Banska Bystrica region, these acts were predominantly committed within health-care facilities, whereas in Trencin region, they involved acts committed outside such facilities - there were, in particular, physical assaults on emergency medical crews," she stated, adding that the police are ready to take part in the new measures. Health-care workers are treated by law as protected persons, and offenders face higher penalties for assaulting them, stressed Maskarova. Bratislava University Hospital said on 15 October that a drunk man physically assaulted a 23-year-old nurse in the emergency department of its Kramare hospital on 13 October. The nurse sustained facial injuries, scratches, bruising and swelling, as well as psychological harm. The police have charged a 63-year-old Austrian man. Another incident took place at the accident and emergency department of Bratislava's Ruzinov hospital on Friday (23 October) in which a man attacked two hospital employees. Both attackers have been remanded in custody. NOTE: This story has been extended to include paragraphs 4 to 5 and the final four paragraphs jrg