Port Pirie patient attack bolsters calls for 24/7 security in hospital EDs

Calls are mounting for 24/7 security in EDs after three doctors and two nurses were themselves hospitalised by a patient they were trying to treat.

Two nurses and three doctors were treated for injuries after a patient went berserk at Port Pirie Hospital.

The patient punched one nurse in the head then chased others around the ward, assaulting multiple people as they tried to restrain the person while protecting themselves before police arrived and finally restrained the patient.

The incident occurred on Saturday night when the patient initially approached a nurse in a corridor, stepping on her foot and then punching her in the head, according to the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation.

The patient then chased staff around the ward, injuring two nurses and three doctors who had to be treated in the hospital’s emergency department.

SAPOL were called and finally subdued the patient.

It is understood the patient involved was an inpatient waiting for a transfer to a specialist aged care treatment unit, and that the injuries sustained by staff were relatively minor.

A Yorke and Northern Local Health Network statement to The Advertiser says officials have a zero tolerance for violence and aggression and their priority is to provide a safe environment for staff, patients and visitors at our hospitals.

“The incident that occurred at the weekend is unacceptable and we acknowledge the impact for staff involved,” it states.

“All staff have returned to work following a medical assessment and arrangements have been made for individual and group counselling sessions by an independent provider.”

Federation state secretary Adj Associate Professor Elizabeth Dabars said the latest attack on medical staff follows a string of assaults in regional hospitals.

An attack by a patient at Riverland General Hospital last month left nurses “ducking punches and projectiles” from a patient at 4am. He smashed an entry door before police arrived and restrained him.

Damaged doors at Riverland Hospital after a violent incident with a patient. Pictures supplied by ANMF.

Elizabeth Dabars, ANMF (SA Branch) CEO-Secretary. Picture: Greg Adams

In February a violent patient had to be tasered four times by police at Wallaroo Hospital.

“Saturday’s harrowing incident follows a spate of recent violent episodes at regional hospitals where there are no 24/7 restraint-trained security guards to protect staff, patients and visitors,’’ Ms Dabars said.

“The ANMF SA branch has been urging authorities to implement 24/7 restraint-trained security guards at the Port Pirie and Wallaroo hospitals, with more than 1900 people signing an online petition to date.

“We also have an online petition ongoing for 24/7 security at Berri and Murray Bridge hospitals, with more than 1100 signatures to date.’’

Some staff are taking passive protest action, with nurses at Port Pirie and Wallaroo hospitals swapping their standard uniforms for purple ANMF SA branch scrub tops to show their concern over security and what they say is a “clear lack of commitment from the

Yorke and Northern Local Health Network (YNLHN).”

Port Pirie Hospital where the attack took place

Ms Dabars noted in February, a man had to be tasered four times by police after smashing multiple glass panels at Wallaroo Hospital late at night, terrorising staff and patients.

“We note that earlier this month it was reported that extra police and security had been posted at Parliament House following concerns about violence and anti-social behaviour in North Terrace and the CBD,’’ Ms Dabars said.

“If it is good enough for our politicians and parliamentary staff to have an increased security presence, why then is it not good enough for nurses and other health care workers who have to deal with violence and aggression on an almost daily basis?

“We know from a review into hospital safety in Port Augusta and Whyalla last year that the presence of 24/7 security guards has had a very positive impact not only in terms of reducing violent incidents but also in alleviating the psychological stress on staff.

“We yet again urge our sluggish bureaucracy to implement the 10-point plan to end violence and aggression.”

As well as 24/7 restraint-trained security guards, the plan outlines standards for preventing violence and aggression through workplace redesign, education and training for health workers, and empowering staff to expect a safe workplace is to be taken seriously by management and executives.

Opposition regional health services spokeswoman Penny Pratt said incidents of violence towards regional nurses and doctors is a key reason why healthcare staff are leaving country centres.

“It’s incredibly disappointing and frustrating that more regional hospitals weren’t provided with crucial restraint-trained security personnel through the budget as we had been calling for since early 2022,” she said.

“Additional security is a no-brainer measure to keep nurses, doctors and hospital staff safe before police intervention. It is a huge failure by Labor to not provide funding for bollards, lock down safety zones, safety glass, alert pendants and more guards.

“Peter Malinauskas’ failure to secure these crucial safety upgrades is another firm warning that regional health is not on Labor’s priority list.”’

The Yorke and Northern Local Health Network statement notes: “We have implemented a number of measures to improve safety at our sites while our Security Working Party undergoes a full investigation of appropriate security responses. These include Safety Intervention De-escalation Training for staff and providing all staff with duress alarms.

“Our Security Working Party continues to investigate a range of measures including considerations of physical improvements at the site, increased training for staff, and the use of security staff. We will update our staff and the community with the outcome once this investigation is complete.”