Hospital workers told to ‘hide uniforms and IDs’ amid fear of attacks from protesters
THE toddler’s tragic story has divided the UK, with hospital staff targeted with “unprecedented personal abuse” from protesters.
At Work
Don't miss out on the headlines from At Work. Followed categories will be added to My News.
THE furore surrounding the Alfie Evans case in the UK has escalated to the point that hospital staff are now fearing for their safety.
The terminally ill 23-month-old is at the centre of an increasingly ugly debate after he was struck down with a mystery sickness at just seven months of age.
He was placed on life support at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool in England in December 2016, which was switched off on April 23 this year following a failed legal battle by his parents Kate James and Tom Evans to stop the hospital from switching off their son’s ventilator.
• Aussies shunning six-figure salaries
• Map shows richest, poorest areas
The couple have a legion of supporters who have also fought to keep the boy alive.
But police have been present at the hospital since it was announced this month that the European Court of Human Rights would not intervene in Alfie’s case.
The situation is so heated National Health Service (NHS) staff at the Royal Liverpool Hospital, which is less than five kilometres from Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, have been warned to hide their uniforms and ID outside work hours amid fears of abuse and attacks from Alfie’s supporters.
The Royal has not cared for Alfie — but a spokesman toldMetro the threat to staff was still very real.
“Following local reports of abuse towards NHS staff, we have provided our staff with advice regarding their own safety and security,” the spokesman said.
“Abuse of NHS staff or others whose role is to protect and care for others should not be tolerated.”
It follows an open letter written by Alder Hey Children’s Hospital’s chairman and chief executive of the hospital trust Sir David Henshaw and Louise Shepherd, which described the “unprecedented personal abuse” staff had experienced at the hands of Alfie Evans supporters.
“Our nursing, medical and support staff come into work each day at Alder Hey determined to do the best for our patients and those who care for them,” the letter states.
“Unfortunately, these same remarkable staff have recently been the target of unprecedented personal abuse that has been hard to bear.
“As an organisation, we have endured attacks upon our motivation, our professionalism and our ethics. It has been a very difficult time.”
The letter went on to describe the significant disruption caused by protesters.
“Having to carry on our usual day to day work in a hospital that has required a significant police presence just to keep our patients, staff and visitors safe is completely unacceptable,” the letter explained.
“Our staff have received in person, via phone calls, email, and through social media channels a barrage of highly abusive and threatening language and behaviour that has shocked us all.
“Worse still, patients and visitors to Alder Hey have also reported abuse. We are truly grateful to Merseyside Police for their unstinting support.”
Violence, abuse and threats directed at medical staff is a worldwide problem, with US statistics revealing healthcare workers were up to 12 times more likely than other workers to experience violence at work.
Safe Work Australia has also revealed that “workers who are first responders in an emergency — police, paramedics, emergency hospital staff, security officers and fire fighters — or in correctional services or the health and aged care sectors, are the most likely to be exposed to workplace violence.”
Originally published as Hospital workers told to ‘hide uniforms and IDs’ amid fear of attacks from protesters
21yo gets job, then gets horror phone call
A young Australian has been reduced to tears online after she landed her dream job – only to receive the worst news days later.
Proof Gen Z are the ‘laziest’ workers
Gen Z employees are storming offices around the nation with unique demands – and apparently, we all need to prepare for change.