Hospital staff protest over the return of suspended colleague

By Darragh McDonagh

Staff at University Hospital Galway (UHG) yesterday walked out in protest at the return to work of a worker who had been absent on full pay for nine months following a violent incident at the hospital last year.

The supervisor and another member of staff had been suspended pending an investigation last December of an alleged assault after which the employee was treated for facial injuries at the Emergency Department.

As many as 10 hospital porters stopped work and gathered outside UHG yesterday morning following the return to work of the employee on Sunday. It is understood that the hospital porter injured in the alleged incident remains on leave.

The porters have cited health and safety reasons for their refusal to work following the return of the man as they allege that hospital authorities have failed to carry out a risk assessment in advance of his reintroduction to the workplace.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) yesterday did not respond to queries as to the outcome of the investigation into the alleged assault that took place during the course of the employees’ working days.But the Independent Workers Union, who represent the worker who returned to his employment, say that he has carried out an anger management course and complied with everything that was asked of him. They say that a “worker against worker” situation was not desirable.

The incident last December prompted trade unions to demand that hospital management put in place procedures to ensure the safety of their members in the workplace.

It is understood that the protesting workers contacted their union yesterday morning and expressed concern at an unreasonable threat to health and safety posed by the return of the supervisor in the absence of a risk assessment carried out by the authorities.

For more, read this week's Connacht Sentinel.