Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Some time ago, I mentioned threats to staff in hospitals, particularly in accident and emergency departments. Having witnessed such threats first hand, I thought they were very serious. Foul and insulting language has been used to staff and other patients in accident and emergency departments and there have been threatened attacks by patients on other patients. This was not just happening in one hospital. I understand it is a common occurrence across hospitals. What has happened in the past six months to address this issue, which is a serious reflection of the quality that the public health service can deliver? Would anyone like to field that ball?