Minimum security standards for hospitals will be introduced shortly, Health Minister Kamil Šaško (Hlas-SD) told journalists on Thursday following Tuesday's (13 October) attack on a nurse at a hospital in Bratislava's Kramare district.
Šaško described the incident as unacceptable and called for exemplary punishment.
"Within a short time, minimum standards will be introduced, regardless of the cost, and every hospital will be required to comply with them," the minister declared, noting that security standards currently vary between hospitals. He pointed out that, at some facilities, for example, the duties of private security personnel include refraining from intervening against individuals and focusing instead on protecting the premises.
Bratislava University Hospital said on Thursday that a drunk man physically assaulted a 23-year-old nurse in the emergency department of its Kramare hospital on Tuesday. The nurse sustained facial injuries, scratches, bruising and swelling, as well as psychological harm.
Police have charged a 63-year-old Austrian man over the incident. A motion seeking his remand in custody is also being prepared. The Bratislava Regional Prosecutor's Office confirmed the charge to TASR, with its spokeswoman, Gabriela Kovacova, saying that, following instructions from the Bratislava regional prosecutor, a motion will be filed to remand the accused in custody on grounds of flight risk and to prevent further offending.
