Critically ill Thomas beaten with walking stick by fellow patient

A critically ill blind man is terrified to return to hospital after an attack by another patient left him with blood pouring from a head wound.

Thomas McArthur was being treated for a potentially fatal pneumonia infection when the patient assaulted him at Glasgow’s Gartnavel Hospital. It is understood the 59-year-old was hit repeatedly over the head with a walking stick.

The attack left Thomas drenched in blood and with a deep gash to his head. He is now refusing to return to hospital where he needs urgent treatment because of the horror incident.

His furious family claim they had warned nurses they thought Thomas was at risk and are planning legal action.

Last night angry wife Brenda said: “A hospital ward is the last place you would expect someone as vulnerable as this to be attacked. But what makes it so hard to stomach is I could see this man was agitated. I pointed it out to the nurses and yet nothing was done. Now we are left in a situation where my seriously ill husband is terrified to return to hospital, where he needs to be.”

Thomas was admitted to the Western Infirmary in June with pneumonia. Mr McArthur, who suffers from a number of respiratory problems, including emphysema, was told by doctors they were unsure he would survive the infection. He was then transferred to Gartnavel and cared for on a specialist ward. Last week while his family were visiting they became concerned about another patient on the ward who was acting erratically.

Brenda explained: “Thomas has always been very reluctant to go to hospital but the pneumonia was so bad we had no choice. He’s suffered from long term health problems affecting his breathing but had been doing better. But this has knocked him right back.

“It was while I was visiting him that I became concerned about the other man on the ward. He was saying things that were making me uneasy and I told the nurses.”

After informing the nurses about her concerns, Brenda went back to their home in Knightswood, Glasgow. However she was then contacted by the hospital and told there had been an incident.

Brenda, 58, added: “When I got there Thomas was very distressed. Being blind it was impossible for him to protect himself and he told me the incident seemed to last forever. He was covered in blood and there was a large gash on his head.

“The next day doctors ordered a brain scan which showed he’d had an aneurysm. They said they could not be sure it came from the attack, but I’m sure it must have. I’ve made a formal complaint to the NHS, and I’ll be taking legal advice. Wards should be safe places for patients to recover.”

Last month it was revealed Scotland’s hospitals are in the grip of a crime wave, with more than 12,500 offences committed on NHS property in four years. The list of crimes in hospital wards, car parks and waiting areas includes murder, rape and attempted murder. The official figures raised concerns about the safety of patients and hospital staff prompting union officials to call for tougher security measures.

Last night Police Scotland confirmed the Gartnavel incident has been probed. A spokeswoman said: “A 66-year-old male has been reported to the procurator fiscal concerning the circumstances of the incident.”

Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board is also investigating the incident. Their spokeswoman said: “We recognise that this was a very distressing incident for Mr McArthur who was a patient in our care. As soon as this incident occurred we took action and moved both patients into single rooms. We did everything we could to assist Mr McArthur and his family prior to his discharge home. We also notified Police Scotland who have confirmed that they are looking into the matter.”

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