The General Union of Nurses in Belgium (UGIB) has expressed being “deeply shocked” by the violence that occurred Thursday morning at Saint-Pierre Hospital in Brussels, where two nurses were injured after being stabbed by a patient.
One of the two healthworkers has been discharged from hospital on Friday, while the second victim is still in intensive care, according to the Brussels Public Prosecutor's Office. "The suspect will be questioned later today," said spokesperson Laura Demullier.
In response to the violence, the Belgian nurses' union is calling on authorities to implement "concrete and structural" measures to combat violence in the healthcare sector.
"Our first thoughts go to the affected colleagues, their loved ones, and the entire nursing team at the hospital," the UGIB stated, wishing them a swift recovery and appropriate "physical and psychological" support.
According to the UGIB, “this dramatic incident is unfortunately not an isolated case,” as nurses increasingly face verbal and physical violence in their line of work.
Providing care, often under already difficult conditions, should never take place in a climate of fear or insecurity, the UGIB emphasised, urging action. Any aggression towards healthcare workers must be condemned "unambiguously" by political authorities and society as a whole.
Nurses facing such violence should receive systematic support, including psychological counselling, medical assistance, and tailored legal help, according to the professional organisation.
Credit: Belga
The UGIB calls on public authorities to take concrete and structural measures against violence in the sector, with priorities on prevention, workplace security, aggression management training, and a clear incident follow-up procedure.
The safety of nurses, who “dedicate themselves daily to serving the population,” is not a minor detail but an “essential condition to practise their profession with dignity.”
The circumstances of the incident are still under investigation, with Public Prosecutor's Office saying that it will not comment on this.
The incident took place on Thursday around 11:00 in the waiting room of the emergency department. A patient suddenly pulled out a knife for no apparent reason and attacked two people. A nurse and a social worker were injured.
The perpetrator was overpowered by hospital security staff. According to various media reports, the man is believed to have psychiatric problems.
