SPAT AT..ABUSED..STAB THREATS

Nurse reveals daily hell working in Ireland's crisis-hit hospitals

- FERGHAL BLANEY

A PAEDIATRIC nurse yesterday revealed she was threatened with being stabbed as she left work.

Sylvia Chambers told a Dail Committee in Leinster House she had been spat at and verbally abused daily.

She added: "I've had grown men, 6ft 4ins, towering over me, throwing objects at me." Ms Chambers told the committee the situation was caused by overcrowding and a lack of security in hospitals.

And INMO chief Phil Ni Sheaghdha added: "At least 10 assaults occur every day in a profession overwhelmingly made up of women - it is not acceptable."

NURSES are facing stab threats, being spat at, kicked and verbally abused at work, a traumatised health worker told a Dail committee yesterday.