STAFF NEED PROTECTION

FRONTLINE staff at the Robina Hospital mental health unit are showing the scars of violence in the ward.

Despite Government action to boost security, a rollout of body cameras and a hefty investment of $1.35 million in a public awareness campaign, the number of violent incidents in the unit that have been reported have jumped this year.

As the Bulletin reports, WorkCover claims made by mental health nurses have increased to five, up from two a year in 2014-16. That is five too many, just as the two were two too many. Added to that are the 28 incidents of violence that have been reported.

Gold Coast Health says that across the entire hospital service, its initiatives have resulted in fewer WorkCover claims, which is commendable. But evidently a major problem still exists in the Mental Health unit.

Mudgeeraba MP and former nurse Ros Bates says a lot more needs to be done, and it is difficult to argue otherwise. She says an influx of ice patients means they are occupying beds in the unit, resulting in people with actual mental health problems being turned away.

This year the Bulletin warned Australia was failing in what is a major battle against the drug scourge, despite the AMA president Dr Michael Gannon telling the National Press Club this week that alcohol and tobacco cause many more problems than the drug ice. This might well be the case, but the physical and mental harm the drug is causing across the country to not just users but also their partners and children, as well as to medical staff and innocent members of the public when psychotic users lash out, is a huge threat.

Part of the damage is evident in the injuries inflicted on at least some of the hospital staff who have filed claims.

Millions of taxpayer dollars have been sunk into not only an awareness campaign about ice, but also campaigns to educate the public about mental health problems, how widespread they are and how patients should not be treated any differently to people with physical health issues.

The latter campaign is achieving a lot of good, but it is unfair that patients with problems not of their own doing should now find themselves on the outer when they seek hospital help.