Northland Health says it will not tolerate violence towards staff - even from the mentally ill.
A permanent resident of Whangarei Hospital's mental health in-patient unit appeared in Whangarei District Court this week accused of assaulting and threatening a male nurse.
Daniel Akumahi Rihari, 23, of Kerikeri appeared before Judge John Cadenhead on Tuesday and admitted one charge of assault, and one of threatening behaviour.
The charges arose from an incident on Monday when Rihari was asked not to smoke inside a hospital ward.
He ignored the nurse and when asked again to stop smoking, Rihari turned, shoved the nurse in the chest before telling him he would "knock his block off".
Later the same day, Rihari again approached the nurse and demanded to be released from hospital.
When refused, Rihari became angry, charging at the nurse with clenched fists and asking for a fight. The nurse feared for his safety and called police.
Police said Rihari admitted threatening the nurse but denied raising his fists and gave no explanation for his actions. He was convicted and given a six month suspended sentence.
Northland Health's communications manager Luke Worth said violence against staff occasionally occurred.
"Health is a very emotive issue and people do irrational things when some serious health concerns are involved ... it doesn't mean you have to tolerate it.
"Patient and staff safety is paramount. If someone is behaving in a way that's physically threatening to patients and staff then they're verbally warned, security (officers) are brought in," Mr Worth said.
The non-violence policy also applied to visitors to the hospital and on occasion people had been trespassing, had been removed from the site, he said.
- NORTHERN ADVOCATE
Health provider won't tolerate violence against staff
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.