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The Barbados Nurses Association (BNA) expressed disappointment with a recent court ruling where a man found guilty of assaulting a nurse was given a fine of $400. In a statement, president Dr Fay Parris said it was tantamount to “a slap in the face to nurses across Barbados and fails to reflect the seriousness of the offence or the trauma endured”. She also called for the implementation of measure to protect the health care workers. “While the BNA respects the independence of the judiciary, this decision sends a troubling message: that violence against nurses may be met with what appears to be minimal consequence. The penalty must be sufficient to act as a deterrent, not merely a token response,” Parris said. “The BNA acknowledges that professional standards must be upheld across the health sector. However, no patient or relative has the right to physically assault a nurse or any health care worker. Such actions are unacceptable and must be treated with the seriousness they deserve. “This incident also underscores the urgent need for nurses to have access to accident and injury insurance, particularly in light of increasing reports of workplace violence. Nurses must be protected not only by law, but by systems and protocols that support their recovery and well-being when incidents occur. The incident occurred on September 22 at Randal Phillips Polyclinic in Oistins, Christ Church, and the 22-year-old assailant, Josiah Jeremy Lovell, was fined when he appeared in court on Tuesday. He was released on $2 500 bail and is scheduled to return on Friday with a probation officer. The BNA president said public education must reinforce a message to zero tolerance towards nurses, who are in turn expected to display the highest standards of professionalism. Parris called for stronger penalties for assault against health care workers, legislative review to ensure such acts are classified appropriately and support systems and insurance coverage for nurses affected by workplace trauma. Meanwhile, the Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados (CTUSAB) reiterated the call for protection of nurses while on the job. “We can only speak what we know, and we know that the gentleman is on bail. We really don’t understand the full terms of it, but what I must say is that now demonstrates a clear call for protection of nurses at the workplace,” said president Ryan Phillips at a media conference today. “Our nurses really have to be careful in terms of going forward, you know, and in terms of they’re not saying that they cannot learn self-defence, but if you’re going to apply this self-defence at your workplace, then that’s a whole different ballgame, and the Ministry of Health, then, will have to start looking at job descriptions and what the legislation says about that.” (PR/SAT)
