“There are always two sides to a story”
As part of our new campaign to help reduce violence and aggression and keep our hospitals safe, we are encouraging everyone to take a moment and think about what others may be going through.
Jason’s story
Head of clinical site management, St Bartholomew’s Hospital
“In my role I’m not here to discipline. I’m here to understand the facts and until I’ve heard both sides, I can’t make a judgment.
I always try to understand the facts first hand and go into situations with an open mind.
One day I was told that a patient had asked another younger patient to be quiet to allow him to sleep. The younger patient threatened to put a pillow over his head as he slept and it was my job to speak with the younger patient about the threatening statement made. I visited him on the ward and politely asked him to apologise to the other patient, but this triggered him to get out of his bed and punch and kick me to the floor.
I didn’t come to work that day and expect to leave assaulted. I expect to do my job without fear of assault and violence.
Having that happen was harrowing, it made me feel physically sick and at the time I was shocked and surprised that someone was so volatile when I was just asking a question.
I was frightened to leave the hospital and I ended up contacting the police and they took me home. They took a statement but I didn’t want the patient to be arrested as he was very sick, I just wanted him to understand that the behaviour was not acceptable.
At the time I didn’t feel fully supported by the trust, but we’ve now moved on from that and we’re taking steps to reduce violence and aggression toward staff. I’ve taken the courage to raise my story as I believe we’re going in the right direction.
As a trust we’re non-judgmental. We still give patients the same care without reservation, whatever they have done.
We treat everyone with dignity and respect and must remember, there are always two sides to a story.”