HEALTH WORKER ASSAULTS NEED TO STOP

WHEN s--t hits the fan, it is health workers who swiftly arrive at the scene to provide vital care and pick up the pieces. When you speak to health workers, most will say they chose the profession for one reason – they love to help people.

Similar to a superhero – wearing invisible capes – health crews reach people in the furthest and the most remote locations.

A good example of this as of late is the Larapinta Trail, where emergency crews met a large group of lost hikers and helped them get their orientation back. Keep in mind this was on Easter weekend, too.

Health workers have to clean up all kinds of colourful things. Vomit, faeces, blood and almost any other bodily fluid that could fall from a body.

They witness traumatic scenes, day in and day out.

One could argue, “whatever, they get paid to do it”, or, “they signed up for all of the above when they chose health as a career”. But what health workers did not sign up for is to be assaulted.

This is a real issue, to the point where ambulance vans in most states and territories across the country display clear messages on the vehicles in bid to reduce assault on the job.

For example, St John NT ambulance vans, in big red, state: “HANDS OFF”. Surely, you would think, this is a given? That the obvious would be just plain pointless to state. “Don’t hurt people who are only trying to help you.”

But, unfortunately, this is not the case and it is not only limited to the Northern Territory.

In October last year, shocking statistics revealed that one NT ambo was assaulted on the job every five days from January to October 2021.

When an incident such as assault occurs, it only takes a few seconds to leave lifelong psychological scarring.

Early last year, a female St John NT paramedic was brutally assaulted in the back of an ambulance while – you guessed it – helping someone.

Eight months on, when the NT News spoke to her in October 2021, she was still physically shaken when she spoke about the incident.

More recently, the nurse who was allegedly assaulted on the Tiwi Islands is sadly now one of many other courageous health workers who have experienced assault on the job.

This woman made a decision to leave her home, to work remotely in the name of helping others.

Where is the humility? When will this stop?