A former nurse at Muckamore Abbey Hospital in County Antrim has testified that she was injured hundreds of times in the course of her work. Christine Keenan described how a patient once threw a fire extinguisher at her, remarking that if it had struck her she would “probably wouldn’t be here”. Keenan worked at Muckamore between 1973 and 2016, starting as an enrolled nurse before becoming a behavioural nurse therapist. The hospital offers inpatient facilities for adults with learning difficulties.
Keenan said her testimony at a public inquiry into the hospital’s abuse was the first to be given by a staff member. She claimed that while there was no deliberate intention by patients to harm staff, their behaviour often posed a challenge. Keenan also suggested that staff had often suffered injuries that they had not reported in order to shield patients from negative consequences.
Keenan said the challenges of working with learning disabilities were often not appreciated by the general public, eliciting abuse from some patients. Despite incidents of abuse, Keenan spoke of the “family atmosphere” at the hospital, where patients took part in walks, film clubs, dances and church services. However, she also stated that patient experiences had deteriorated during her later years at Muckamore Abbey Hospital, as activities were removed as part of a “modernisation” process.
The inquiry into the hospital’s practices and abuses is due to hear from staff members until February 2024
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