Mrs PADGHAM-PURICH - 1994-10-12
What answer does the minister have to stop the undesirable and dangerous incidence of violence directed at nursing staff at the Royal Darwin Hospital when they feel obliged to deal with drunken, intransigent and obnoxious people who are visiting patients?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, this matter is naturally of some concern. It should be of particular concern to all members that increasing levels of violence are being directed towards nursing staff and other employees at Royal Darwin Hospital and, indeed, at other hospitals in the Northern Territory. As is the case in the broader community, these problems are unfortunately frequently associated with alcohol-related activities. Of course, other factors contribute too.
In the event of domestic differences, the staff have to deal with both the patients and their relatives or friends in the course of their duties. There have been increasing occurrences in this regard. The department is considering means by which to address these problems. Given the increasing incidence of violence in our hospitals, I can only appeal to the broader community to consider the interests of nursing staff and other health professionals. Their job, in terms of providing services to Territorians, is already difficult enough without people taking either their domestic problems or their alcohol-affected behaviour into the hospital system.
Mrs Padgham-Purich: The mongrels who do it will not listen to you.
Mr REED: Mr Speaker, the member interjects and indicates that they will not listen to me. She could be right in that regard but, her Question today and my response at least publicise the increasing incidence of the problem and hopefully will alert the public to it, and that can only be positive. We are looking at the problem. As the Minister for Health and Community Services, I am concerned about its increasing incidence and will endeavour to improve security. Indeed, I believe that has happened to some extent already. I will endeavour also to ensure that nursing staff and other medical professionals at our hospitals are not confronted with more of this type of behaviour that has been experienced in recent times.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, this matter is naturally of some concern. It should be of particular concern to all members that increasing levels of violence are being directed towards nursing staff and other employees at Royal Darwin Hospital and, indeed, at other hospitals in the Northern Territory. As is the case in the broader community, these problems are unfortunately frequently associated with alcohol-related activities. Of course, other factors contribute too.
In the event of domestic differences, the staff have to deal with both the patients and their relatives or friends in the course of their duties. There have been increasing occurrences in this regard. The department is considering means by which to address these problems. Given the increasing incidence of violence in our hospitals, I can only appeal to the broader community to consider the interests of nursing staff and other health professionals. Their job, in terms of providing services to Territorians, is already difficult enough without people taking either their domestic problems or their alcohol-affected behaviour into the hospital system.
Mrs Padgham-Purich: The mongrels who do it will not listen to you.
Mr REED: Mr Speaker, the member interjects and indicates that they will not listen to me. She could be right in that regard but, her Question today and my response at least publicise the increasing incidence of the problem and hopefully will alert the public to it, and that can only be positive. We are looking at the problem. As the Minister for Health and Community Services, I am concerned about its increasing incidence and will endeavour to improve security. Indeed, I believe that has happened to some extent already. I will endeavour also to ensure that nursing staff and other medical professionals at our hospitals are not confronted with more of this type of behaviour that has been experienced in recent times.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016