Larned State Hospital worker hospitalized after inmate attack over weekend, state of Kansas confirms
A worker at Larned State Hospital was hospitalized after being attacked by a patient late last week, the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services confirmed Tuesday.
The incident occurred Friday, KDADS spokesperson Cara Sloan-Ramos said in an email. The staff member was taken to the hospital where they are now recovering, she said.
"The incident occurred without provocation and without warning, making it a tragic situation difficult to prevent," Sloan-Ramos said in the email.
The agency declined to provide further details, citing privacy considerations for the staff member and the inmate involved. The matter will be reviewed by the LSH special investigator.
There are no indications staffing shortages were a root cause of the attack, the agency said. Larned State Hospital, as well as the state's other mental health hospitals, have been hit hard by staffing shortages in recent months.
Two correctional officers at Lansing have been attacked in recent months, with staff shortages blamed for the incidents. Both staff members was hospitalized as a result of their injuries, the union representing state employees, including corrections officers and state hospital staff, said at the time.
Andrew Bahl is a senior statehouse reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached at abahl@gannett.com or by phone at 443-979-6100.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: KDADS: Larned State Hospital worker hospitalized after inmate attack
