A FIFE MAN who hurled an intravenous bag at a hospital doctor was jailed for four months when he appeared at Dunfermline Sheriff Court yesterday.

Steven Watson, from Kennoway, struck Dr Karen McKelvie as she tried to help him in the accident and emergency department at Queen Margaret Hospital.

Fortunately she was not hurt, but Sheriff Ian Dunbar told Watson his actions could have had far more serious consequences.

Watson was due to have been sentenced earlier this month in connection with the incident.

However, the case was adjourned after he collapsed in the dock.

The 43-year-old, of Seton Court, admitted, when the case last called, conducting himself in a disorderly manner and struggling violently with staff at the hospital in Dunfermline on June 29, last year.

He also admitted assaulting Dr McKelvie by throwing the intravenous equipment, which hit her on the face.

His pleas of not guilty to four further charges were accepted by the Crown.

He denied assaulting ambulance technician Susan Thomson by spitting on her in an ambulance en route as an emergency case from Methil to Dunfermline on June 29.

He also denied assaulting Julie Wright at the hospital by grabbing her by the arms and pushing her against a wall, and assaulting Agnes Low by punching her on the left shoulder.

He further denied assaulting Jennifer Thomson by hitting her on the arm.

Sheriff Dunbar heard the ambulance was called after the accused fell.

As he was being rushed to the accident and emergency unit at the Queen Margaret he tried to pull off the oxygen mask he was wearing.

In hospital he was seen to be bleeding from a wound to the head and at one point he pulled the intravenous (IV) drip out of his arm.

Dr McKelvie was near him when he hurled the IV bag.

The police were called and he was arrested and taken to the police station.

However, the duty police surgeon decided he should go back to hospital and he was driven back to the Queen Margaret, from where he went home.

Solicitor Raymond Wachtel told the court at the time of the offences a judgment had just been issued against Watson refusing him contact with a child.

Watson, he added, was serving an eight-month prison sentence imposed at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court at the start of this month for driving while disqualified and without insurance in April of last year.

It was at that point the accused collapsed and Sheriff Dunbar adjourned proceedings to let Watson recover.

During the recess he was attended to by a police officer and a Reliance security guard.

The case recalled a few minutes later.

However, as Mr Wachtel continued, Sheriff Dunbar said it was clear Watson was not fit to follow what was going on and he adjourned proceedings.

When the case recalled yesterday, the sheriff told him, “I accept there may well have been some physical and mental trauma at this particular time, but your behaviour was entirely unacceptable.

“A doctor was assaulted by having an IV bag thrown at her.”

He added that the courts will protect people who work with the emergency services and he felt there was no alternative but to impose a custodial sentence.

He ordered Watson to serve the four months once he has completed his current sentence.