Hospital attacks must stop

TODAY’S report on a rise in acts of violence against Townsville Hospital staff is disturbing.

The doctors, nurses and other staff who work at the hospital are going to extraordinary lengths to take care of patients every day.

To have some of those patients react with violent actions is totally unacceptable.

In 2015- 16, there were 656 reported incidents, however, this figure jumped an incredible 28 per cent to 842 for 2016- 17.

While some of the reason for that spike is being attributed to improved reporting procedures, which make it easier for staff to record incidents, the number of attacks is way too high.

Frontline health workers – like doctors, nurses and paramedics – deserve to be able to carry out their work without the fear of violence.

Government statistics show from July 2015 until March this year, Queensland paramedics were deliberately attacked 414 times.

While a lot of these attacks, and those recorded in hospitals, are likely to have been carried out by people under the influence of alcohol and drugs, that is no excuse. Those responsible for these attacks have to be held accountable.

Governments have tried to address the issue. A massive public awareness campaign about the impact of attacks on paramedics was launched last year by the Labor Government, costing more than $ 1 million. In 2014, the then- LNP government introduced legislation which saw penalties double for assaults on health workers.

These measures should be applauded but the figures from Townsville Hospital indicate they may not be having enough of an effect.

The Government needs to continue monitoring this issue and take more steps to protect health workers, such as increasing security and introducing even tougher penalties for offenders, if the number of attacks is not brought under control.