New legislation offers support for health workers

Under-pressure Queensland health workers will have their wellbeing further protected and the onus put on to hospital boards to ensure they’re supported, under new legislation.

Health Minister Yvette D'Ath introduced the Bill. Picture: Liam Kidston

Under-pressure Queensland health workers will have their wellbeing further protected and the onus put on to hospital boards to ensure they’re supported, under new legislation introduced to parliament this week.

On Tuesday, the state government introduced a new health Bill that requires hospitals, health boards and health services to “proactively consider ways of supporting the wellbeing of staff in Queensland’s public sector health service facilities”.

In introducing the Bill, Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said “our public health workforce work in high-pressure, complex environments day in and day out”.

“Going above and beyond can pose safety risks and impact their physical and psychological health,” she said.

“Queenslanders can only stay healthy if we have a healthy workforce to support them.

“The amendments will enshrine in legislation that the physical and psychological health, safety and wellbeing of the public health workforce is appropriately prioritised.”

The Bill would also implement changes in regard to hospital security, amending the hospital and health boards to “make clear that health security officers cannot provide a direction for a person to leave hospital and health service land if the person requires emergency medical treatment”.

“This amendment is reflective of current practice whereby security officers communicate with clinical staff before providing a direction to a person to leave HHS land, to ensure they are not preventing access to essential medical treatment,” Ms D’Ath said.