 A patient has been taken to court by NHS Lothian |
A convicted rapist has been given a court order banning him from physically and verbally attacking staff at a hospital in Edinburgh. Donald Gibson, who has to be escorted by security guards during his regular visits for kidney dialysis, has been taken to court by NHS Lothian.
Gibson, 37, who was jailed for eight years in 1989 for rape, could be sent to prison if he breaches the order.
He is alleged to have attacked staff and make sexual comments.
The order has been taken out to protect staff at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.
Brian Cavanagh, chairman of NHS Lothian, said: "It is simply not acceptable to subject our staff to verbal or physical attacks while they are performing their jobs.
"There are situations where our staff have to provide long-term treatment for chronic, and life-threatening, illnesses to difficult patients.
"Access has to be managed in such a way that vital treatment is given to such patients while at the same time ensuring our staff are protected.
"This has included good behaviour contracts with patients, additional security during treatment, separation of the patient from others in the hospital and special training and support for staff having to deal with a particularly difficult patient."
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Access has to be managed in such a way that vital treatment is given to such patients while at the same time ensuring our staff are protected
