Chad Bryan, Gleaner Writer

KINGSTON, Jamaica:
The president of the Nurses Association of Jamaica (NAJ), Janet Farr, says measures will be put in place to ensure the safety of workers dealing with mentally ill patients at the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH).

A meeting between Farr and senior medical officials at the hospital was called today following an incident involving a mentally ill patient who attacked and tried to strangle a nurse about 2 o’clock this morning.

“We decided that we are going to retrofit a ward that houses psychiatric patients. That ward houses non-psychiatric patients, but they are going to fix it in such a way, in an area that is contained, so that you can nurse them properly,” said Farr.

READ: KPH nurses protest after mentally ill patient attacks colleague

Farr added that a psychiatric doctor will also be on duty to assess and possibly stabilise patients in the casualty area before they are admitted to the ward.

She said additional nurses trained to deal with the mentally ill will be introduced and training for health aides in the use of restraints will also be done.

Farr also says security arrangements will be made for nurses in the night.

This morning's incident sparked protest action by nurses outside the hospital.

WATCH: Nurses at KPH protest


Follow us on Twitter:
@JamaicaGleaner

Follow us on Instagram:
jamaicagleaner

Watch our videos on YouTube:
Jamaica Gleaner

Email us: onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com