Nurses Union threatens strike over violence
According to officials in the Nurses Union, if steps are not taken to reduce violent incidents, nurses across will strike and paralyze the health system in Israel. Nurses are calling for a committee to formulate a plan of action for protecting health care personnel.
According to Cohen, weeks after the brutal murder of Tovah Karraro, violence against nurses continues. "Just Monday a computer screen was hurled at a nurse in the ER—and once again, we were only a step away from an unacceptable situation.
"Our demand to eliminate violence was not declarative and ceremonial, but a real demand for tangible and immediate action to examine ways to protect the caregivers in the health system."
According to officials in the Nurses Union, if steps are not taken to reduce violent incidents, nurses across will strike and paralyze the health system in Israel.
Nurses are also calling for a team to be set up immediately in order to formulate a plan to cease violence in the Israeli health system. Nurses are calling for a deadline on the formation of such a team and demand that conclusions be submitted as soon as one month.
In response to the strongly-worded letter, the Ministry of Health responded, saying, "The Ministry of Health is a partner with all nurses. These atrocious incidents of violence including the burning of Tovah Karraro and the throwing of a computer screen at another nurse are red lights and we view them with the utmost seriousness.
"Workers in the health system are the forefront of public service and they do their job with no end in sight, in difficult conditions and infrastructure that are not always satisfactory. Right now, a committee is being formed under a directive of the Minister of Health.
"The committee will be under the responsibility of the Director General of the Ministry of Health and will include representatives of nurses and doctors."
(Translated and edited by Fred Goldberg)
