Woman who was verbally abusive to SGH staff after being told to wear mask to be charged

SINGAPORE: A woman who became verbally abusive towards a Singapore General Hospital (SGH) staff when told to wear a mask will be charged in court on Friday (Oct 13), the Singapore Police Force (SPF) said. 

She also faces additional charges for unrelated offences committed earlier this month.

In the incident at SGH, the police said in a press release that they received a call for assistance regarding a verbally abusive patient at about 2.35am on Oct 10.

"A 29-year-old woman who was at the Accident and Emergency Department of the hospital to seek medical treatment for her injured foot was allegedly shouting and caused annoyance to the public.

"She also allegedly verbally abused a nurse prior to the arrival of police officers," the police said.

Two investigation officers arrived at about 3.15 am to interview the woman, introducing themselves as officers from the Central Police Division at the onset. They engaged the woman in the presence of the uniformed police officers.

During the engagement, the woman was uncooperative and refused to provide her statement, the police added. She had also allegedly used Mandarin vulgarities against one of the investigation officers.

Midway through, she started recording segments of her interaction with the investigation officers and in the process tried to take a security pass belonging to one of them. The investigation officer firmly told her not to touch her pass, said SPF.

As the woman was awaiting medical treatment, the police decided to allow her to complete her treatment and to follow up with her later. The woman later allegedly uploaded the video recordings to social media. 

SEPARATE INCIDENT AT MARINA BOULEVARD CONDO

The police also said that this was not the only time officers had to be called in against the woman.

They noted that the security team of a condominium located along Marina Boulevard had requested police assistance on Oct 3.

The woman was allegedly intoxicated and the security team assisted in escorting her up to her unit.

She then allegedly pushed one of the security officers on his shoulder, pulled his tie, and also purportedly used insulting and abusive words towards him.

While the woman was compliant when the police arrived, she was placed under investigation for the offences committed against the security officer.

Investigations have found there is reason to suspect the woman could have contravened the conditions of her work permit and the police will refer the matter to the Ministry of Manpower.

She will be charged with the following offences on Friday, including public nuisance, using abusive language against public service worker or public servant, assaulting or using criminal force on security officer and intentionally causing harassment. 

"BEHAVIOUR WAS DISRUPTIVE TO THE OPERATIONS"

In response to CNA's queries on Thursday, Associate Professor Kenneth Tan, Head and Senior Consultant at SGH's Department of Emergency Medicine, said that a patient had "displayed aggressive behaviour" towards the hospital staff on duty at the emergency department on Oct 10.

While assessing the patient for entry into the emergency department, she was handed a mask after the staff noticed that she was not wearing one. 

"She refused to put on and became abusive when our staff reminded her about the ministry guidelines on mask-wearing in hospitals," said Assoc Prof Tan. 

The police were called in after the patient's abusive behaviour persisted despite the efforts and repeated attempts by the hospital's clinical and security team to calm her down, he added.

About two hours from the time she arrived at the hospital's emergency department, the patient was discharged after being thoroughly reviewed by SGH's clinical team. 

In a video posted on social media, an investigating officer is seen asking the patient filming the video if she had spouted expletives at the nurse. 

The patient claims that she had waited three hours at the hospital after her leg was injured in a traffic accident and was not seen by a doctor. 

She also claims that the nurse told her she was "not a Singaporean" and thus did not have the right to seek treatment at the hospital. 

Masking is required in all clinical areas in the hospital to protect patients and staff, said Assoc Prof Tan.

"This is particularly important in the emergency department where there are many ill and vulnerable patients. By refusing to wear a mask, the patient had put others around her, particularly our vulnerable patients, at risk," he added.

"Her behaviour was disruptive to the operations as the hospital had to deploy more manpower to attend to the case at the expense of other emergency department patients who were waiting to be seen."

Assoc Prof Tan added that SGH has zero tolerance for any form of abuse and harassment, either physical or verbal, towards its staff.

"The hospital will not hesitate to take appropriate actions against abusive behaviour as our colleagues deserve a safe and respectful working environment," he said.

"Our priority now is to provide support to our affected colleagues, and ensure that the emotional and psychological well-being of our team are taken care of."

 Assoc Prof Tan reiterated that everyone at the emergency department will receive the care required, and thanked netizens who have expressed their understanding and support towards the staff who were verbally abusive, as well as the police for their support.

"We respect our patients who entrust their care in us. For this to take place, it is important to have mutual respect and trust," he said.

"We are grateful to the vast majority of our patients whom we partner closely with to provide a more pleasant and caring environment, not only for our patients and also for our colleagues."