A hospital patient whose partner had just died of coronavirus threw a cardboard box filled with vomit at a nurse after a drinking binge.
Sarah Ogilvy abused staff while undergoing treatment at the accident and emergency department at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.
The city’s sheriff court heard Ogilvy’s partner had passed away from the virus the day before the incident.
The accused’s name was given as Matthew Clark on the charge but she identified as Sarah Ogilvy, the court heard.
Ogilvy, 55, pled guilty yesterday to assaulting, obstructing or hindering medical workers and shouting, swearing and behaving in an aggressive manner at the ERI on March 9.
Ogilvy admitted throwing the box containing vomit at a nurse as she tried to provide her with medical assistance.
Fiscal depute Miriam Clark said Ogilvy was rushed to the ERI by emergency ambulance after being found “lying on the pavement after falling in a state of intoxication”.
Ms Clark said Ogilvy called an NHS worker a “cow” and “b****” then fell out of a wheelchair due to drunkenness and had to be helped onto a trolley.
Ogilvy vomited on the floor of the hospital despite being provided with a bowl, the court was told.
Ms Clark said Ogilvy later told the nurse to “f*** off” and threw the box of vomit, missing her but hitting a cubicle curtain and bin which required to be cleaned up.
The fiscal depute said the A&E ward was “incredibly busy” and Ogilvy’s actions added to the stretched staff’s workload.
Defence agent Graeme Runcie said Ogilvy had been in a relationship for a number of years.
His client’s partner fell ill, he said, and died from coronavirus the day before the incident.
Mr Runcie said the loss caused “significant angst to Miss Ogilvy” who began drinking.
Ogilvy had “precious little” memory of the incident, the solicitor said.
Sheriff Adrian Cottam told Ogilvy: “It was a horrible thing to do.”
He ordered Ogilvy, from the Wester Hailes area of Edinburgh, to pay £200 in compensation.
