“The members of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Worker East send our deepest thoughts, concerns and wishes to the nurse and her family after the terrible attack at HCA Florida Palms West Hospital.

It’s especially sad and distressing when a committed caregiver is critically hurt on the job providing care to others.

As a union, the well-being and safety of workers is core to our mission. We demand contracts and implore employers to ensure safe staffing levels, procedures and other policies that protect caregivers, all staff and patients.

As this awful incident is more closely investigated, we call on HCA, local agencies and other officials to be fully transparent on how it occurred and to avoid the possibility of future tragedies.  This must also include an honest examination of public mental health policy and the state of our healthcare system in general.

But in the meantime, our union is offering resources and support to rattled HCA Palms West staff who feel vulnerable; and we’re especially focused on a full and rapid recovery of our caregiver family member who suffered such a savage attack.” 

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Roxey Nelson is Executive Vice President for 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, the largest union of healthcare workers in Florida.

 Media contact:
Ed Gilhuly

305-807-6906/egilhuly@leftcom.com