Thousands of Melbourne healthcare workers attacked on the job
A nurse who was almost strangled by a patient in a “nightmare” attack has shared her story to shed light on the thousands of healthcare workers who are the regular targets of violent and aggressive behaviour on the job.
South East
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Hospitals are kitting out staff with duress alarms and lapel cameras, boosting security and bringing in drug detector dogs as violence against healthcare workers escalates across Melbourne.
Latest data has revealed more than 7000 healthcare workers were subjected to aggressive or violent attacks on the job in the past financial year.
A Leader investigation into occupational violence at sites run by eight metropolitan healthcare providers found there were 7129 incidents during which an employee was abused, threatened or assaulted while on the job.
Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said violence towards these “brave and dedicated workers” was “never OK”.
“Our healthcare workers are not punching bags,” she said.
SCROLL DOWN TO READ ABOUT ONE NURSE’S HORRIFYING EXPERIENCE
Melbourne Health had the highest number of reports, 2123, up from 1775 the previous year.
This equated to 30.3 incidents recorded per 100 full time employees at sites including The
Royal Melbourne Hospital and NorthWestern Mental Health.
Melbourne Health’s executive director of nursing services, Associate Professor Denise Heinjus, said the increase in reporting was due to employees being more aware of their rights.
The organisation was working hard to reduce violence through increased CCTV and lapel cameras for staff members, portable and fixed duress alarms and drug detector dogs, she said.
At Peninsula Health – which looks after sites including Frankston Hospital, The Mornington Centre and Rosebud Hospital – there were 887 reports, the equivalent of 27 incidents per 100 full-time workers.
Peninsula Health chief executive Felicity Topp said they were working towards a zero-tolerance policy and had introduced CCTV cameras and alarms for staff, she said.
There were 1262 incidents reported at Monash Health, which covers more than 40 sites including Dandenong, Moorabbin and Casey Hospitals, and Monash Medical Centre in Clayton.
This equated to 10.2 incidents per 100 full-time workers, with 60 per cent of episodes resulting in staff being injured or becoming ill.
Monash Health spokeswoman Cassandra Stanghi said while they were pleased to see a drop in the number of incidents reported since the previous financial year, even one employee harmed was one too many.
She said they had introduced mandatory training to de-escalate situations and ways to approach patients – and their families – who may be delirious, have a mental illness or substance abuse problems, and affected employees were offered extensive support.
Leader compiled data from Alfred Health, Austin Health, Eastern Health, Melbourne Health, Monash Health, Northern Health, Peninsula Health and Western Health.
Ms Mikakos said the State Government had kitted out hospitals with new technology and equipment to keep workers safe.
“We’re building behavioural assessment rooms in our busiest emergency departments, and we’ve equipped staff with the training they need to manage difficult and potentially dangerous situations,” she said.
“Most importantly, we’ve created a culture where instances of violence are no longer swept under the rug or considered just part of the job – but reported, as they should be.”
‘AT THAT MOMENT I FELT LIKE I WAS NEVER GOING TO GET OUT OF THAT ROOM’
Maria De Bartolo spent decades caring for others, but an attack at work shattered the nurse and left her constantly on edge.
A dementia patient moved from another hospital “went ballistic” and tried to strangle her in March 2018.
“At that moment I felt like I was never going to get out of that room — I wouldn’t have wanted that to happen to my worst enemy,” Ms De Bartolo said.
The nurse needed surgery on her spine and had a major operation on her right shoulder in March this year.
Worse still, she said she lost her sense of self.
“I couldn’t brush my hair or my teeth on my own, I couldn’t dry myself after a shower — my daughter had to help me.”
“I felt so isolated, like I was in a prison cell and I’d never escape.”
She said the hospital didn’t follow up or support her and the attack could have been avoided.
“There should be more information provided about patients and what to do if they turn violent,” she said.
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“Maybe something could have been done and the patient could have been flagged correctly. It could have been different had we known how aggressive he was.”
“It was a total nightmare and I was angry at everything that happened. How it happened, why it happened, and I should not have gone into the room.”
Slater and Gordon is assisting Ms De Bartolo with a workers’ compensation claim, and investigating a pain and suffering claim.
Her lawyer, Jonathan Gillard, said: “Hospitals are under a great deal of pressure with limited resources and it’s hard to watch people sustain injuries like this which may have been avoidable.”