Dr LIM - 2005-08-23
Nurses are assaulted verbally and physically on a daily basis at emergency departments in our public hospitals. Staff are sworn at, spat at, and punched, yet nothing seems to be done to prevent such actions against them. Violent and abusive patients are given all the rights and our loyal health staff none. When will you provide protection for our staff from the violence they face every day? What are you doing about staff safety? When will you be prepared to tell abusive patients that they will have to respect our staff or they will not be assisted in our hospitals?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I presume the member is extrapolating from the incident that occurred in the Alice Springs Hospital car park where a nurse was assaulted while she was going to her car. That was an incident we regret. We are following that up with that particular staff member to ensure she feels that her concerns are being dealt with.
For a long time now, in the Alice Springs Hospital, in terms of that particular incident, the staff have access to a security escort to go to their vehicle, or to allow them to get from the hospital grounds towards home if they have any concerns about their safety. That service for the staff has been there for a long time. It is still there and can be used by staff members.
Nevertheless, we have looked into the causes of that particular incident. We have increased the lighting in that part of the car park and, with any of these incidents, as they happen, we will look at what we can do to make them less likely to happen into the future.
Taking the other arm of the proposition that the member for Greatorex put forward – yes, there are certainly incidents in our hospitals with patients, and families of patients or acquaintances, particularly late at night where there is alcohol involved,. A and, where - as members would appreciate - , there is a lot of emotion around seriously ill or traumatised people who often come into our hospitals.
There is nothing we can do on that part to guarantee that those emotions will not be in the workplace in a hospital. It would simply not be possible to vet every person coming in seeking care, and to ensure that they are not emotionally charged with the situation they are in. That is why we appreciate the work of, particularly, our critical care nurses and the critical care staff in our hospitals. They deal with that high level of volatility in patients and other people coming into those workplaces on a daily basis. We understand that,; that is part of the work situation that they are in.
What we can do, and do, is to provide security support around our hospitals so that it is possible to call in assistance if there is aggressive behaviour is becoming apparent. We also provide training in anger management for the staff in anger management so that they do not escalate these incidents. To give any sort of guarantee - is the member for Greatorex suggesting that I stand at the door of ED and personally try to exclude anyone who looks a bit dodgy in his view?
Dr Lim: You can set the standards. You can raise the bar as the minister. You can raise the bar.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Greatorex!
Dr TOYNE: Hospitals have to care for the sick and the injured,. tThey have to care for them without fear or favour. Anything that comes in the front door has to be dealt with, particularly seriously injured or seriously ill people. That is the bottom line. We have to understand that and acknowledge the fantastic work the staff do in carrying that through. I am very proud of our staff. I will certainly take any personal action I can, as minister, to give them all the support they need.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I presume the member is extrapolating from the incident that occurred in the Alice Springs Hospital car park where a nurse was assaulted while she was going to her car. That was an incident we regret. We are following that up with that particular staff member to ensure she feels that her concerns are being dealt with.
For a long time now, in the Alice Springs Hospital, in terms of that particular incident, the staff have access to a security escort to go to their vehicle, or to allow them to get from the hospital grounds towards home if they have any concerns about their safety. That service for the staff has been there for a long time. It is still there and can be used by staff members.
Nevertheless, we have looked into the causes of that particular incident. We have increased the lighting in that part of the car park and, with any of these incidents, as they happen, we will look at what we can do to make them less likely to happen into the future.
Taking the other arm of the proposition that the member for Greatorex put forward – yes, there are certainly incidents in our hospitals with patients, and families of patients or acquaintances, particularly late at night where there is alcohol involved,. A and, where - as members would appreciate - , there is a lot of emotion around seriously ill or traumatised people who often come into our hospitals.
There is nothing we can do on that part to guarantee that those emotions will not be in the workplace in a hospital. It would simply not be possible to vet every person coming in seeking care, and to ensure that they are not emotionally charged with the situation they are in. That is why we appreciate the work of, particularly, our critical care nurses and the critical care staff in our hospitals. They deal with that high level of volatility in patients and other people coming into those workplaces on a daily basis. We understand that,; that is part of the work situation that they are in.
What we can do, and do, is to provide security support around our hospitals so that it is possible to call in assistance if there is aggressive behaviour is becoming apparent. We also provide training in anger management for the staff in anger management so that they do not escalate these incidents. To give any sort of guarantee - is the member for Greatorex suggesting that I stand at the door of ED and personally try to exclude anyone who looks a bit dodgy in his view?
Dr Lim: You can set the standards. You can raise the bar as the minister. You can raise the bar.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Greatorex!
Dr TOYNE: Hospitals have to care for the sick and the injured,. tThey have to care for them without fear or favour. Anything that comes in the front door has to be dealt with, particularly seriously injured or seriously ill people. That is the bottom line. We have to understand that and acknowledge the fantastic work the staff do in carrying that through. I am very proud of our staff. I will certainly take any personal action I can, as minister, to give them all the support they need.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016