Hospital rampage

Car crashes into ambo bay

THE paramedics union has called for harsher punishments for those who attack health workers after a woman allegedly drover her car into the Alice Springs Hospital.

According to NT Police, the 23-year-old woman allegedly drove a vehicle at a 45-yearold woman about 4.30am yesterday, before chasing the victim into the hospital, causing property damage and assaulting staff.

No one was physically injured in the incident. It is understood the car may have crashed into the ambulance bay.

The Sunday Territorian understands computers were smashed during the incident which caused the hospital to go into lockdown.

Union branch secretary Erina Early said any assault on a worker was unacceptable.

“A paramedic’s job, and any health worker’s job, is to help people during the most vulnerable time in their lives,” she said. “To have someone think it is OK to attack them, it’s just not on.”

Ms Early said there needed to be harsher punishments for those who attacked workers, as well as education campaigns to try to prevent a culture of violence.

“It’s never OK to yell or scream abuse at a paramedic or health worker, especially when they are focusing on a patient,” Ms Early said.

“A moment’s distraction can, tragically, have deadly results for patients.

“We need stricter laws and more severe punishments for those who do.

“Health workers are only doing their job, trying to save lives. To have someone attack them in their place of work – it’s not OK.”

The woman was charged with recklessly endangering life, two counts of assaulting a worker, and criminal damage.

She has been remanded in custody and will appear before the Alice Springs Local Court tomorrow.