Italy healthcare workers face increasing violence in hospitals

Healthcare professionals in Italy are facing rising incidents of physical aggression and threats within hospital settings.

In Bologna, an experienced nurse at the Policlinico Sant’Orsola was injured after being kicked in the neck and arms by a patient experiencing severe psychomotor agitation. The incident required police intervention to calm the aggressor, and the nurse is receiving psychological support following the trauma.

In Como, police arrested two men following separate acts of violence at the Sant’Anna hospital in San Fermo della Battaglia. One 30-year-old man, reportedly under the influence of substances, was arrested for aggression, threats, and interruption of a public service after a violent outburst in the emergency room. A second incident occurred in the psychiatry ward involving a 67-year-old man, highlighting ongoing security concerns for medical staff.