Watch: Nurses stalked along terrifying ‘rape alley’

Watch as a terrified nurse walks “Rape Alley” to her car amid revelations of verbal, physical and sexual abuse outside hospital grounds. EXCLUSIVE FOOTAGE

Petrified Queensland nurses are ditching night shifts as they report being verbally, physically and sexually harassed while walking down dark alleys to their cars far outside hospital grounds.

WATCH IN THE PLAYER ABOVE THE TERROR NURSES FACE AT NIGHT

In the middle of a health workforce crisis, fear of attack is causing nurses to cancel after-hours shifts and their partners to take the unsustainable step of getting kids out of bed in the night to pick them up.

A new survey of nurses carried out by the Nurses Professional Association of Queensland has exposed the extreme impact of inadequate safe and affordable parking for hospital workers.

The nurses report being pelted with bottles and eggs, bombarded with verbal abuse and intimidating behaviour.

A dark road where nurses who work at the Prince Charles Hospital park. Photo: Steve Pohlner

They make sure they wear their hair up in a bun rather than a ponytail so there is less chance of being dragged down by the hair.

One unlit and seedy laneway near Ipswich Hospital has even been dubbed Rape Alley by healthcare workers.

Both the Queensland Midwives and Nurses Union and the NPAQ are pushing the government to protect their workers and provide suitable carpark spaces.

Health Minister Tim Nicholls’ office has told The Sunday Mail the minister appreciates that there are concerns over night shift parking both for safety reasons and costs.

The NPAQ wrote to the minister, the Director General of Queensland Health David Rosengren and Toowoomba, Sunshine Coast, Townsville and Cairns councils this month outlining the shock results of the survey.

“The Minister will investigate the issues raised by the NPAQ and provide a response to the association,” a spokesman said.

Kara Thomas says Queensland hospitals are not doing enough to protect their staff. Photo: Steve Pohlner

The Miles government this year announced a $1.7bn investment into growing and retaining the state’s healthcare workers.

“If the government can afford 50 cent fares for public transport surely they can do the same for their much-needed nurses. Subsidise nurses on night shifts to park in hospital car parks for 50 cents a day or let them park at a street meter close by for 50 cents,” president of the Nurses Professional Association of Queensland Kara Thomas told The Courier-Mail.

The QNMU has lobbied for the government to deliver free carparking for nurses and midwives on all shifts at all public hospitals as a priority during its 2024/25 State Budget.

“We demand all employers put in place safety measures such as security escorts, alarm systems and adequate lighting to ensure the personal safety of their employees when accessing carparking facilities,” secretary Sarah Beaman said.

The Health Minister’s spokesman said most Queensland public hospitals offer free parking. Of over 200 sites statewide, 17 hospitals have paid parking arrangements.

“Mr Nicholls has asked to be provided with Queensland Health’s advice on addressing the concerns raised by this association and the representatives of all healthcare workers regarding safe and equitable access to carparking,” the spokesman said.

Ms Thomas said nurses are arriving for work hours before their shifts to secure a safe park close to the hospital.

Kara Thomas is a nurse who says not enough is being done to protect staff. Photo: Steve Pohlner

“The survey shows that 70 per cent cannot afford to pay for parking or the parking tickets they get from meters running out in two or four hours. Even in unsafe, unlit parking areas the nurses are paying at least $40 a week,” she said.

The NPAQ has also asked Queensland Health to ensure there is a security presence during shift changes, CCTV coverage, emergency alarms along walkways, dedicated secure parking for after hours staff and collaboration with local councils to implement street parking permits.

“This is not just about parking, it is about keeping nurses safe and making sure they stay in the workforce,” Ms Thomas said.

This month the annual Australian Medical Association Queensland/Australian Salaried Medical Officers’ Federation Queensland Resident Hospital Health Check report found rising crime rates were also impacting the state’s young doctors, with a third frightened to walk between hospital buildings on night shift.