TimesLive reports that there have been 61 attacks on Gauteng healthcare workers at the province's facilities since the beginning of the year, mostly by mental health patients.

Responding to questions at the Gauteng provincial legislature, health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko said others incidents related to anger towards staff for various reasons, such as refusal to buy them items, patients trying to escape, angry relatives and patients linked to criminal activities. “The attacks range from incidents where staff members were bitten, punched, hit on the face, robbed, or assaulted. These led to patients either being sedated, restrained, transferred to other wards or facilities, or being secluded and, in some instances, cases being opened with the police,” she indicated. The majority of the incidents happened at Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital (21), Carletonville Hospital (nine), Far East Rand Hospital (nine), Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (seven), Thelle Mogoerane Hospital (four) and three at Kopanong Hospital. Nkomo-Ralehoko said the department continued to take measures to equip staff to deal with attacks and to reduce them. The measures included training staff on responding to aggression and violence.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Kgaugelo Masweneng at TimesLive

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