The case of a 69-year-old man accused of assaulting a nurse while she worked at Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre in Moncton, N.B., has been set over until later this month.
Bruce Randolph “Randy” Van Horlick of Acadieville, N.B., is facing one count of assault causing bodily harm, which carries with it a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, if convicted, or 18 months under a summary conviction.
READ MORE: Man, 69, charged for alleged assault of Moncton nurse appears in court
The alleged incident occurred in the Natasha Poirier’s office at Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre on March 11.
The assault is alleged to have lasted 11 minutes before security intervened.
Poirier wasn’t in court on Tuesday but her mother spoke to media, telling them that Poirier is still struggling to cope.
“She has tried just to go in the hospital environment to see her office, but it’s just atrocious, very, very difficult,” said Norma Melanson.
Paula Doucet, president of the New Brunswick Nurses Union, says that they’ve working to get more information about other incidents where nurses have been assault.
Doucet said they’ve been using access to information legislation to get reports around violent incidents in both of New Brunswick’s health authorities.
“The numbers are alarming and something has to be done by employers as well as government to reduce the violent incidents,” she said.
WATCH: Rally against workplace violence held in Moncton
Van Horlick did not enter a plea on Tuesday, with his defence lawyer telling the court he had received disclosure earlier that day.
It’s expected that Van Horlick will enter a plea when he next appears in court; he is currently set to return to court on July 30.