‘Chaos’ in our hospitals

NURSES are demanding more security in the state’s emergency departments after three staff were assaulted this week, and nine code blacks called in 24 hours in Launceston.

One staff member suffered serious facial injuries on a day of mayhem at the Launceston General Hospital.

A code black is called when immediate assistance is needed to deal with threats of violence or aggression against staff members.

It triggers a response from trained staff throughout a hospital, but nurses union branch secretary Emily Shepherd said the system was failing.

“It does take time for them to arrive in the emergency department, during which staff may have already been as- saulted,” Ms Shepherd said. “It’s that physical presence within the department rather than them needing to be sourced from other areas.”

Ms Shepherd said tighter security was being considered after industrial action over bed block at the LGH. But she said this week’s incidents meant urgent measures were needed with EDs becoming crowded during the winter peak.

“In that sort of environment anyone is at risk of agitation,” she said.

“Anyone who is prone to violent outbursts is likely to be triggered by being in an environment like that, which is completely chaotic.

“There does need to be a security presence based within the emergency department.”

Health and Community Services Union boss Tim Ja- cobson said he was aware of several recent instances of violence and aggression, but said security guards did not address the issue of violence.

“The best thing the Government could do is actually improve throughput at our hospitals to ensure there aren’t the frustrating delays,” he said.

Acting Health Minister Elise Archer said the Government took a zero-tolerance ap- proach to assaults on medical staff. She said the Government would continue to work to ensure all staff received adequate security and care.

Labor health spokeswoman Sarah Lovell said workplace safety for medical staff needed to be a priority. She said that while security was one aspect of encouraging safety, steps needed to be taken to reduce bed block and ease pressures.