Michelle Daw, Yorke Peninsula Country Times
Security guards have begun work around the clock at Wallaroo Hospital in a six-month trial to combat violence and aggression against staff.
The guards started at the hospital on Friday, September 1.
Health Minister Chris Picton said hospital staff would be regularly surveyed during the trial to gauge whether the security presence was making a difference in the workplace.
Contracts for 24/7 security at Port Pirie Hospital are also being finalised and they are expected to start work in coming weeks.
Management of the Yorke and Northern Local Health Network have formed a group including staff and union representatives to implement the measures.
During the trial, an ongoing security model will be developed for Wallaroo Hospital.
Mr Picton said closed circuit television, improved physical hospital spaces, duress alarms and additional training for staff have also been implemented.
Mr Picton said the trial followed the introduction of 24/7 guards at the Mount Gambier and Port Lincoln hospitals last year.
“Nothing is more important than the safety of our hardworking doctors, nurses and other healthcare staff,” he said.
The trial is a win for nursing staff and the local community, who supported a campaign led by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation for restraint trained guards to be employed 24/7 at the sites.
The campaign included an online petition which attracted 2300 signatures, while more than 100 businesses displayed posters and members wore purple scrubs at work.
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.
ANMF SA branch chief executive Professor Elizabeth Dabars said the trial of security guards was a great result.
“We know having 24/7 security guards on site is directly linked with a reduction in violence and also results in the improved psychological wellbeing of staff,” she said.
Prof Dabars said a June 2022 review found since the introduction of 24/7 guards at the Whyalla and Port Augusta hospitals in July 2021, there had been a 52 per cent decrease in reports of staff being hit and a 62 per cent decrease in incidents resulting in injury to a worker.
Yorke and Northern Local Health Network chief executive Roger Kirchner thanked the governing board, staff and community for their continued consultation on security measures.
“We look forward to seeing whether this makes a positive difference to our staff,” he said.
Member for Narungga Fraser Ellis welcomed the introduction of guards and congratulated the community for rallying behind the push to make it happen.
“The safety of day and night hospital staff is the priority and must override all other financial and administrative decisions and I commend the YNLHN Governing Board in ensuring this relatively swift policy implementation,” he said.
“The violent incidents which had been occurring which caused (the) need for this increased security were very alarming for all and certainly justify the allocation of these increased resources.”
This article appeared in Yorke Peninsula Country Times, 5 September 2023.
