"No excuses, we will prosecute abuse and aggression on our sites"
16.01.2025
The Health Board’s CEO has condemned the behaviour of a man jailed for assaulting four members of staff who were trying to help him.
Jamie McAdam (pictured) was locked up for 14 months last week, after a judge remarked on his intention to “cause serious harm” to health staff.
Police had to be called on December 6, 2023, after McAdam, from Colwyn Bay, verbally abused, spat at and punched workers at Glan Clwyd Hospital. He had previously admitted four counts of assaulting an emergency worker.
The Health Board’s CEO Carol Shillabeer said: “We understand some people are under extreme stress when they need our services and some people come to us with difficulties.
“However, there is no circumstance where staff in our emergency departments should have to contend with the behaviour we have seen in this case. No colleague should have to experience such aggression or violence in the course of their work.
“I have been clear, there are no excuses for threatening staff or visitors at any of our sites. We will always prosecute abuse and aggression against our colleagues, where it is appropriate. I am fully aware of the incredible service they provide under immense pressures and they quite rightly enjoy support from the majority of the public. So, thankfully, these extreme incidents are rare.
“I would also like to pay tribute to our partners within North Wales Police and the Crown Prosecution Service for bringing this individual to justice.”
Heavily drunk and having taken ketamine, McAdam was aggressive and abusive to staff who tried to treat him, before spitting at and biting health workers.
He bit through a canula, then tried to smear blood on nurses while claiming he had hepatitis. A nurse tried to bandage his arm where he had pulled out the cannula, but he bit her, leaving her with a sharp pain on her forearm. A porter, intervened to try to help restrain him, but McAdam tried to bite his hand.
After being sedated, McAdam then went for a CT scan but became violent once again and struck out at a security guard.
Assessed by a doctor as fit to leave the hospital, McAdam refused and continued to cause a disturbance until officers from North Wales Police arrived.
Imposing a custodial sentence of 14 months on McAdam, who had 28 convictions for 53 offences, Judge Nicola Jones said: “All of these people were doing their best to assist you. There was an intention by you to cause serious harm.”
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