National Police officers have arrested a 43-year-old man in Elche as the alleged perpetrator of a crime of assault against an authority agent. The arrest occurred after he assaulted a female healthcare worker at the Elche General University Hospital while she was performing her duties in the Emergency area.
According to information provided by the National Police Corps, the incident took place during the medical assistance to a patient with a fracture. At the moment the medical staff was attempting to reduce the injury, the patient, apparently due to pain, began to act aggressively, allegedly delivering several punches to the healthcare worker's back. He then allegedly grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her forcefully while shouting.
The woman filed a complaint at the police station, submitting a work accident report. Police investigations led to the identification and location of the alleged perpetrator, who was arrested and informed of his rights. The events were initially classified as a suspected crime of assault against an authority agent, given that the victim held public employee status and the assault occurred during the performance of her duties.
This action is part of the measures to prevent and respond to assaults on healthcare professionals, reinforced by the figure of the Police Healthcare Liaison. This tool aims to improve coordination between Security Forces and Corps and healthcare centers in the face of an increase in such incidents.
A recent study by the Federation of Health and Social Health Sectors of CC OO PV indicated that 73.5% of non-healthcare staff and 85.8% of healthcare staff in the Valencian Community have suffered some form of aggression. The report, based on surveys of over three thousand professionals, indicated that more than half of the staff experience mistreatment repeatedly and that a significant percentage do not report the aggressions received.
