Threats and intimidation commonplace at many Helsinki health clinics
One Helsinki nurse has had a computer screen thrown at her, and another one has had to dodge folders and other flying objects thrown by patients. Sometimes windows are broken and furniture smashed.
"Threatening situations and constant destruction", say head nurse Hilkka Heikkilä and staff nurse Leena Tuomikoski, describing everyday hazards at the Kannelmäki municipal health clinic.
Nearly all of Helsinki’s health centres report an increase in bad behaviour.
The two say that verbal abuse and threats have also increased. There have even been some death threats.
The Kannelmäki clinic is one of the Helsinki health clinics to have hired a full-time security guard.
The guard came more than two years ago. The move calmed the situation somewhat, but disturbances are on the rise again.
On Friday last week, one "patient" was seen going from one clinic to another with a long sabre knife and a pocket knife.
In addition to staff, other patients are sometimes at risk. Once when the staff at a clinic were having coffee to celebrate the retirement of one of the members, an angry customer in the waiting room went on a rampage, breaking things and throwing flowers on top of other patients. Once a patient who had lost control grabbed cartons of milk from another patient’s shopping bag and threw them on the floor.
The greatest problem at the Kannelmäki clinic are drug abusers who lurk in the area. They will often try to get prescriptions from the doctors. Others also try to borrow money. When this does not work, the security guard might have to escort the doctor to the parking area for fear that the disgruntled customer might be waiting outside.
"A completely nonsensical situation: we are helping people, but we end up being targets of aggression", Leena Tuomikoski says.
"Of course, they are cries for help, but directed in the wrong way. Professionally I can understand them, but not on the emotional level."
Currently each worker at the clinic has a personal emergency alarm button to press if things go out of hand.
"It is calming, because you know that you will get help soon", Tuomikoski says.
The doors of the rooms are always locked, and nurses use only their first names for security reasons.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 9.11.2006 - TODAY |
 Threats and intimidation commonplace at many Helsinki health clinics
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