A Carlisle hospital doctor feared she would be attacked after a drunk patient ripped out a cannula and lunged at her.
Mary Lee, 52, admitted she could not really remember what magistrates called a sickening incident at the city’s Cumberland Infirmary just after midnight on January 24.
At the time, Lee was the subject of a court-imposed conditional discharge imposed late last year for being drunk and disorderly on a previous date.
Police were called to the hospital after learning that Lee was being aggressive to staff.
She had presented at the accident and emergency department with stomach pains and was examined.
But prosecutor Pam Ward told Carlisle Magistrates’ Court today: “She ripped a cannula out of her arm and threw it at the doctor. Lee became aggressive both verbally and physically, lunging at her.”
Lee was described as being unruly with both her words and behaviour.
“The duty doctor approached the officers and said she was present when the cannula was ripped out of the defendant’s arm and thrown,” said Mrs Ward. “At the time when she lunged towards the doctor, she believed she would be assaulted.
”Staff asked that Lee be escorted out of the hospital as she did not require treatment. But her loutish conduct continued. Mrs Ward said: “She was led out and walked through the main reception. This was full of people awaiting treatment.“
The defendant continued to shout and scream and swear and make threats despite repeated requests for her not to do so.”
Lee, who admitted a public order charge, told the court: “I apologise. I don’t really remember much about it. I was really drunk.”
Handing Lee, of Heysham Road, Heysham, a £120 fine, lead magistrates Lynne Gauntlett told her: “This was a rather sickening incident at our local hospital. People there have been working hard got the last two years and don’t need to have to deal with this sort of abuse from members of the public.”
