# Violence against healthcare staff in Italian hospitals

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/violence-against-healthcare-staff-in-italian-hospitals
> Updated: 2026-09-21T13:45:47.000Z. Sources: 20. Developments: 2.

Incidents of violence involving agitated patients have been reported at emergency departments in Italy.

In Padova, a patient experiencing psychomotor agitation caused structural damage and tension at the Ospedali Riuniti Padova Sud emergency room. The individual threw objects and barricaded himself in a bathroom, requiring law enforcement intervention. While no injuries were reported among staff or patients, the department's operations were disrupted for several hours.

In Rossano, a security guard at the Nicola Giannettasio Hospital was seriously assaulted while attempting to assist an agitated patient. The guard sustained a fractured nasal septum and other injuries. Following the attack, the workers' union, USB, called for urgent meetings to demand improved safety measures and organizational changes, citing previous warnings regarding inadequate security in emergency departments.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-21: Italian prison officers targeted in multiple violent assaults

Prison officers in Italy have faced multiple violent assaults in Caltagirone and Lecce, prompting unions to demand better staffing, improved protection, and better management of psychiatric inmates.

13 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/rossano-hospital-security-guard-assaulted-in-emergency-room

### 2026-09-08: Ospedali Riuniti Padova Sud emergency room vandalized by aggressive patient

An aggressive patient caused significant damage and disruption at the Ospedali Riuniti Padova Sud emergency room in Italy, requiring law enforcement to intervene to prevent injuries.

7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ospedali-riuniti-padova-sud-emergency-room-vandalized-by-aggressive-patient

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Cite as: Violence against healthcare staff in Italian hospitals. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/violence-against-healthcare-staff-in-italian-hospitals