A psychiatric technician at was injured Sunday when a male patient became agitated and aggressive, a psychiatric technicians' union representative said Monday.
"This is just another day on the job with us," said Brad Leggs, president of the California Association of Psychiatric Technicians.
The patient became agitated with a female psychiatric technician's assistant late Sunday morning and started swinging, Leggs said.
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The inmate punched a male psychiatric technician in the face when he intervened, Leggs said.
The technician went to the hospital's medical unit and then went home and was to see his private physician, Leggs said.
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The inmate was not arrested, Leggs said. The did not respond to the incident, Capt. Tracey Stuart said.
The inmate, who has had previous confrontations, was in the area of the hospital that houses patients sent there on criminal cases, Leggs said.
Jennifer Turner, spokeswoman for the California Department of Mental Health, said in a prepared statement that on Sunday "a forensic patient assaulted staff resulting in minor injuries to a few staff. Hospital police responded to the scene and worked with staff to de-escalate the situation."
A psychiatric technician was killed by at Napa State by a patient in October, another psychiatric technician was assaulted by a patient in December and a hospital employee was sexually battered by a patient in March, prompting calls for increased police in secured areas at the hospital.
The Department of Mental Health Services reported 574 physically aggressive acts against Napa State Hospital staff between October 2009 and September 2010.
By Bay City News Service.
