Nurses assaulted by patient with COVID-19 – he pleads guilty

Jake Brinley-Chambers attacked two nurses caring for him in an attempt to leave ward

A patient with COVID-19 has pleaded guilty to assaulting two nurses who were trying to prevent him from leaving the ward where he was being treated.

Jake Brinley-Chambers, of no fixed address, had to be physically restrained by police after he attacked staff at the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham earlier this month.

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Nottinghamshire Police said one of the nurses sustained bruising after Mr Brinley-Chambers grabbed and pushed her.

He pushed another nurse who tried to intervene, and then picked up a chair and a drip stand and attacked a hospital window, which he cracked.

Guilty plea results in community order and £140 fine

Mr Brinley-Chambers appeared before Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on 3 February and pleaded guilty to criminal damage and two counts of assault.

He was given a 20-day community order and ordered to pay a £140 fine and £300 compensation.

Police condemn ‘shocking’ incident

Nottinghamshire Police superintendent Mat Healey said he was appalled by the incident.

‘No emergency worker should have to endure abuse as they go about their job, especially those working hard on the front line to fight the coronavirus pandemic,’ he added.

‘Our hospital colleagues and officers are selflessly putting themselves at risk every day to care for and protect the public, and it’s shocking they have to encounter people like this who are spreading the virus, irresponsibly refusing treatment and infecting others.’

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NHS trust offers support to staff

Sarah Moppett, interim chief nurse at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, said the organisation was supporting staff members affected by the incident.

‘Our staff continue to work tirelessly to be there when our communities need us, in what are exceptionally difficult circumstances,’ she said.

‘To carry on being there for the public, we need their support, not violence and aggression.’

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