Michelle Daw, Yorke Peninsula Country Times
Security guards will be trialled at Wallaroo Hospital following a vigorous campaign by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Foundation SA Branch and the local community.
State Health Minister Chris Picton announced yesterday (Monday, July 10) the Yorke and Northern Local Health Network board had decided to trial the use of 24/7 guards for six months at the Wallaroo and Port Pirie Hospitals, starting as soon as possible.
This follows recent terrifying incidents at both hospitals.
Police had to taser a man four times when he smashed through two sets of entry doors at Wallaroo Hospital and attacked the back of an ambulance in mid-February.
There were two violent incidents at Port Pirie in June, with four nurses and three doctors assaulted.
Mr Picton said the trial would be assessed by the Security Working Group, made up of executives and staff; union representatives would be invited to join.
YNLHN chief executive Roger Kirchner said the group had improved security measures across all sites in recent months, including better deescalation training, duress alarms and improved CCTV.
“Our staff have told us security guards will further enhance safety — and we’re listening,” he said.
Security guards were introduced at the Whyalla and Port Augusta Hospitals in 2021 and at the Mount Gambier and Port Lincoln Hospitals in 2022.
A YNLHN spokesperson said the review of the service at Port Augusta Hospital had included assessing the number of worker incidents, staff incidents, code blacks (threats to personal safety) and incidents requiring security assistance and surveying staff and key partners, including SA Police.
“We will be undertaking a similar review at both Wallaroo and Port Pirie six months after implementation,” the spokesperson said.
ANMF chief executive Professor Elizabeth Dabars said the decision was a tremendous win and thanked staff and local communities for backing the branch’s campaign.
This included an online petition which attracted 2300 signatures, while more than 100 businesses displayed posters and members wore purple scrubs at work.
“We look forward to working with the security group to ensure this is a solution which remains in place long term” Ms Dabars said.
She said a review of the use of security guards at the Whyalla and Port Augusta Hospitals had found a decrease in the number of violent incidents and psychological injuries reported by staff.
This included a 52 per cent decrease in reports of staff being hit by a moving object or person.
“We are confident that stationing 24/7 security guards at Port Pirie and Wallaroo will have a positive impact in improving safety and in turn positively benefiting patient care,” Ms Dabars said.
Member for Narungga Fraser Ellis welcomed the announcement as wonderful news for the safety of hospital staff and patients.
“I will be chasing up with the minister at the conclusion of the trial to find out how it went and what the results were,” he said.
“This is a good decision for the safety of day and night hospital staff who deserve the full support of the department and community in providing essential front-line health care at our busy hospitals.”
This article appeared in the Yorke Peninsula Country Times, 11 July 2023.
