Hospital violence spikes
THHS turns in $ 7.3m surplus and 13% increase in admissions
HEALTH workers have reported a huge spike in assaults from patients and Townsville Hospital is hoping new body cameras will stem the violence.
The number of assaults against staff has increased by 28.35 per cent, new figures from the Townsville Hospital and Health Service reveal.
In 2015- 16, there were 656 reported incidents of occupational violence at Townsville Hospital – 436 physical and 220 verbal.
In 2016- 17, there were 842 reported incidents of occupational violence – 462 physical and 380 verbal.
Townsville Hospital and Health Service chief operating officer Kieran Keyes said the increase in reported incidents could largely be attributed to improved, more robust reporting systems.
“The new system allows staff to quickly and easily report incidents digitally rather than the slower and more cumbersome paper system,” he said. “It provides the hospital with a better understanding of the level of violence against our staff and means we can direct support to our staff in a more timely manner.”
Early this year Townsville Hospital trialled body- worn cameras for health security staff in the emergency department and public areas of the hospital.
Mr Keyes said following the success of this trial the use of cameras would be extended to other areas.
“It’s expected there will be 15 more body- worn cameras in use at the hospital in the near future,” he said.
The hospital also has 380 CCTV cameras and 442 duress points. Mr Keyes said incidents of occupational violence over the past two financial years were mostly directed toward health security officers and clinical staff.
“To help safeguard frontline healthcare employees, we have risk management processes in place and offer a range of occupational violence training to address aggressive and challenging behaviours. There are a range of policies and systems in place which support safe, positive and healthy work environments and these are regularly reviewed,” he said.
“Training for staff includes early detection and prevention of violence, de- escalation techniques and methods to avoid or escape the situation.
“On occasion, health security may remove certain items, including furniture, to ensure the safety of the workplace, staff and patients.”
Legislation was introduced in 2014 to double the penalty for people who assault health workers. If someone commits an aggravated serious assault on a health worker, they could face up to 14 years in jail.
Mr Keyes said Townsville Hospital and Health Service valued the safety of its staff and did not tolerate violent or offensive behaviour.
THE Townsville Hospital and Health Service treated more than 117,000 patients during the past financial year while recording a 13 per cent increase in admissions.
The statistics were revealed after the State Government tabled the THHS annual report on Friday.
The THHS also welcomed a surplus of $ 7.3 million, while recording 2710 births, 131,113 medical imaging examinations and a 26 per cent increase in total occasions of service.
Board chair Tony Mooney said the document showed the organisation had a healthy financial outlook and was a state leader in the quality of care being delivered.
“We are seeing all elective surgery patients, all outpatients and everyone waiting for an endoscopy and general dental care within clinically recommended guidelines,” he said.
“These results have been achieved with a strong commitment to patient safety and with sound financial management, which has seen us record a $ 7.3 million surplus.”
During 2016- 17, Townsville became the only regional hospital in Queensland to freeze heart tissue to treat atrial fibrillation while also beginning construction on the $ 16.5 million Palm Island Primary Care Centre.
All patients with immediately life- threatening conditions ( category one) who presented to the emergency department were treated within two minutes.
Sixty- eight per cent of patients with imminent lifethreatening conditions ( cate- gory two) were treated within 10 minutes.
Mr Mooney said the health service had been allocated a $ 935.9 million budget for 2017- 18, an increase of $ 71.6 million on the past financial year. “Our surplus is being used to contribute to a number of important projects including the new Palm Island Primary Care Centre, replacing bedside equipment with state- of- theart vital- signs machines and building more car parking,” Mr Mooney said.
The health service spends $ 2.6 million every day to provide care and support across the region.
“Demand for our service is continuing to increase but our organisation and our staff’s ability to absorb this additional demand while maintaining exceptionally high standards is something of which I am immensely proud,” Mr Mooney said. “This organisation is the largest civilian employer in the region, employing one in 50 North Queenslanders with a monthly pay run of more than $ 50 million.”