Security upgrade at Willaura campus

Patients, staff and visitors at East Grampians Health Service’s Willaura campus are set to benefit from a security upgrade.

Member for Western Victoria Jaala Pulford said the State Government had provided funding of $134,083 through its Health Service Violence Prevention Fund to upgrade Parkland House, Willaura Hospital and Willaura Day Centre.

“The funding will be used to install CCTV and perimeter door access controls at the Willaura campus as well as an upgrade of duress and nurse call systems,” she said.

“This money will help deliver on our promise to reduce violence at hospitals and mental health services across the state, including Willaura Hospital, by making them safer for all, especially frontline workers who care for our loved ones.”

Health Minister Jill Hennessy said the money would help make h ospitals safer for staff and patients.

“Our hard working doctors, nurses and para- medics are not punching bags. Abuse is not part of the job and won’t be tolerated,” she said.

The government is investing $40-million to improve the safety of frontline workers.

So far, more than 60 health services across Victoria have received funding for a range of safety measures through the Health Service Violence Prevention Fund.

In addition, in an Australian-first, all hospitals are required to implement a clear and standardised Code Grey policy for responding to, preventing or reducing a violent situation.

The State Government’s ‘It’s never OK’ campaign is designed to reduce occupational violence and aggression against healthcare workers and paramedics.

Ms Hennessy said it was estimated that up to 95 percent of healthcare workers had experienced physical or verbal attacks while simply doing their job caring for others and saving lives.