Obviously name changed and will try to keep this short. Work on a ward as an HCA where some patients are psychiatric patients under legal framework, fine with me. What's not fine is receiving physical abuse from these patients. For 2 long days in a row I have been 1:1 with a young psych patient, and been on the receiving end of multiple kicks (with boots on) punches and attempts of biting. I'm not usually one to think about work whilst I'm not there, but these last 2 days have really got to me. I decided to talk to police about the matter today. Saw an officer who took details and said I'd get a call back. Officer who called back said basically as patient was under legal framework, no charges can be made. I don't know why I didn't think of this! The thing is though, the patient in question is a regular and although deemed to lack capacity over medical treatment, surely that just can't mean it's ok to assault people and get away with it??!!
What pisses me off more than being assaulted, is the time the patient takes away from the other patients I should be caring for (7 others). I'm not saying any patient is more important than others, but all my other patients were left uncared for.
I'm just wondering what other places do in circumstances like this?