Man charged after two midwives attacked at Coventry Hospital

[dutchman]

Two midwives are recovering after being attacked as they were caring for babies at Coventry’s University Hospital.



They were working in the maternity unit on Saturday evening when a man allegedly assaulted them in a row over the number of people allowed in the unit.

One of them – a 61-year old – was kicked in the back and suffered internal injuries, while her 43-year old colleague was punched in the face and ended up with a black eye.

Both of them have been offered counselling and support, and so have staff and patients on the ward at the time.

Jill Foster, Acting Chief Nursing Officer at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust said:

“We have a zero tolerance approach to people who verbally or physically abuse our staff and I am appalled that two staff members who were caring for women who had recently given birth should be treated in such a horrendous manner.”

“I would reassure our staff, and warn members of the public, that as a Trust we will take every measure to support the police in prosecuting attacks on our staff as well as using our own sanctions to exclude those people from our site.”

The 24-year old man, who’s from Foleshill, will appear at Coventry Magistrates a week today accused of two counts of assault.