A nurse was chased and intimidated by four masked men on her way to work at the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald on Wednesday evening. The South Eastern Health Trust described the incident as a racist attack and condemned it. The nurse, who was targeted because of her skin colour, insisted on completing her shift to care for patients.

Unison regional secretary Patricia McKeown said the nurse was chased into the hospital by four masked men. She added that alternative accommodation had since been found for the nurse. McKeown said overseas health workers were under threat following calls to arms on social media and urged leaders to take decisive action, arguing that calls for calm were not sufficient.

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt addressed the public disorder that occurred across Northern Ireland on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. He paid tribute to firefighters and ambulance crews who were attacked while responding to incidents. Mr Nesbitt said fire crews were prevented from reaching fires and assaulted as they carried out their duties.

Mr Nesbitt also sought to reassure the health and social care workforce. He said the system depends on international workers and condemned racist and xenophobic behaviour. The minister warned that preventing staff from reaching their workplaces could disrupt service delivery and would not be tolerated. He urged any staff feeling concerned or vulnerable to seek support from their employers.

UK Health Secretary James Murray said the intimidation of the nurse was beyond unacceptable and praised her dedication to patients. The Department of Health’s Chief Professional Officers issued a statement condemning the violent and racist scenes. They reported that other staff had been stopped by masked individuals and said such behaviour does not reflect the views of the majority in Northern Ireland. The officers expressed support for international colleagues and said the health system would collapse without them.