A young security guard who was seriously injured by a “wild” patient in a hospital ward fears she may never return to her job.
Lou Wicks was attacked by an intoxicated man as she and her colleagues tried to restrain him in the emergency department of Maidstone Hospital.
The 23-year-old suffered agonising ligament damage and, months later, was diagnosed with a spinal disease.
Now registered disabled and reliant on a cocktail of 25 strong painkillers every day, she is unable to carry on her job.
She stays at her flat in Chatham most days and is only able to carry out light housework.
Lou has worked in the security sector for five years and “loved” her job.
She told KentOnline: “I have been employed at pubs, clubs, football matches and festivals. But I’ve never seen anything as bad as in that hospital.
“It’s by far the worst I’ve ever experienced.”
The incident happened on an afternoon last May at the accident and emergency department of the hospital in Hermitage Lane.
The man, who was ”known” to Lou and her work colleagues, arrived “very drunk” with his mother.
Lou added: “He wanted to go outside for a smoke, but couldn’t stand up.
“We had to call back up to hold him down. He was lashing out like a wild animal, trying to headbutt.
“He struck me several times, booted me in the knee and kicked me in the back.”
Eventually, police were called, and the man was arrested and escorted out of the busy ward.
Lou says she was x-rayed and treated for a leg injury before being sent home with crutches and painkillers.
But just a few weeks later, she started getting strange pains, particularly at night in bed.
The former security guard added, “It felt weird. It was like having somebody else’s leg.
“When I told the doctor I had pins and needles, he said I needed to go to the hospital immediately.”
As she was unable to bear weight on her leg Lou was referred to MedOCC at Medway Maritime Hospital.
The MedOCC team provide appointments with GPs and nurses for people who need medical help, but are not facing a life-threatening emergency
An examination revealed damage to ligaments and a degrading spine, which is a degenerative disc disease.
Lou, who works for Knight Protection security firm, said: “What gives anyone the right to do what they did to me?
“We are there to do a job, and that job isn’t being attacked.
“I’d like to get across that everyone you see in emergency departments has a family to go home to, and none of us want to be injured and our family see us like that.
“Like other people, I come to work to earn money and pay my bills.
“I don’t expect to be verbally or physically assaulted by some idiot who can’t hold his drink.
“One wrong move can also ruin someone’s life, as this incident has ruined mine.
Before the attack, Louse loved going out and, in particular, doing karaoke in pubs in Rochester.
“Now I can’t do anything,” she added. “I’m in so much pain. I’m on 25 tablets a day.
“It took me seven hours to clean my bathroom the other day because I had to keep stopping.
“My mum who’s 55 has to help me carry anything heavy. I’m 23, I should be helping her.
“I’ve lost my independence and confidence.”
Lou added: “I’m not sure what the future will hold for me now. I think it’s going to be full of medications and surgeries to try and help but the success rates for them aren’t very high.”
And she fears she may have to alter her career path.
“I think I’m going to have to change my entire career as I can no longer do security, which breaks my heart due to it causing me so much pain,” she added.
At the end of last year, KentOnline reported how a delivery driver was brutally attacked in broad daylight while doing his job.
The assault in Chatham town centre left dad Steven Golding with a broken nose, eye socket and facial fractures.
Mr Golding, who underwent specialist surgery and was off work for a month, still gets flashbacks and now wears a bodycam as a deterrent.
The clash happened after Mr Golding, 48, told a shop worker he was not permitted to carry his parcel inside a shop in Railway Street because of the company’s insurance policy.
Mr Golding, who has been a delivery driver for nearly 30 years, says he’s seen an increase in aggression towards himself and his colleagues in recent years.
He added: “We are face-to-face with the public. It’s not like you can just hang up and put the phone down.
“At the end of the day, we are just doing our job. And it’s a service that’s needed, as shown during lockdown.”
Daniel Garnham, general secretary of the Security Industry Federation (SIF), wants legal protections for industry workers similar to emergency and retail staff.
He is petitioning Parliament to change the law so such assaults are treated as standalone offences.
Mr Garnham said: “Currently, if an ambulance worker or police officer is attacked, the perpetrator can expect a custodial sentence.
“If a security guard is attacked, the perpetrator is likely to get a suspended sentence, a fine or a slap on the wrist.”
“The petition reads: “Security workers play a vital role in maintaining public safety, but can face violence and abuse while performing their duties.
“Despite their critical role in protecting businesses, venues, and the public, security workers lack the legal protections afforded to emergency workers and shop workers.
“Security are often first responders to incidents of crime and violence, yet, we feel they get little recognition or statutory protection, leaving them vulnerable.
“A dedicated offence could serve as a deterrent and an acknowledgement of their role in protecting public safety.”
Source – Kent Online