State opposition admits it never ‘directly consulted’ with hospitals over proposed PSO trial

Matthew Guy is holding firm on his plan to station PSOs at major hospitals, despite Australia’s peak body for emergency medicine flagging safety fears.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy has stood by his plan to have PSOs stationed at major hospitals, despite concerns raised by Australia’s peak body for emergency medicine.

Mr Guy on Tuesday said he couldn’t “fathom any circumstance in which someone would …settle for having less security than more”.

“I actually want to make sure that our hospital staff and people attending hospitals have every bit of security available to them at the time that hospitals need it,” Mr Guy said.

It comes as the Australasian College of Emergency Medicine on Monday said the presence of uniformed officers could actually decrease safety in emergency departments, instead calling for security guards with specialised training.

“The only thing I’d say to that is those (PSO) staff will be on call to a hospital. So it’s the hospital who will determine whether or not they’re inside or not,” Mr Guy said.

“I’m not pushing staff into emergency wards — I’m saying it’s up to the hospital to choose if they want to. If they want they can call them and they’ll be there very, very quickly.

“They might be waiting some time for the police to arrive because they’re busy. But we’re going to make sure that there’s actual staff right outside the hospital who can come in when they’re required.”

Meanwhile, Daniel Andrews said none of the five major Victorian hospitals included in the opposition’s protective service officers trial had asked for them in the first place.

And opposition health spokeswoman Georgie Crozier admitted this was true, saying the Liberal Party hadn’t “directly consulted” any of the hospitals.

Premier Daniel Andrews says none of the five major hospitals have asked for PSOs.

Shadow Health Minister Georgie Crozier admits the Libs didn’t ‘directly consult’ any of the hospitals.

“I have consulted with the Australian College of Nursing and they tell me that, through their surveys, the nurses say one of the biggest issues is around occupational violence,” she said.

“This is a very serious issue.

“I am a former nurse. I’ve had patients attack me, scratch me, throw bodily fluids at me.

“The violence and the assaults that occur to our frontline workforce every day in our hospitals is unacceptable.”

The strange admission came on Monday morning after the Premier responded to reports of the opposition’s proposed trial.

Andrews also said Victoria Police chief commissioner Shane Patton had never raised the issue with him.

“I’ve visited a few of those hospitals and they’ve not talked to me about this,” Mr Andrews said.

“They have talked about more nurses and more doctors but they haven’t mentioned this.”

Under the plan, PSOs would be stationed in mobile units immediately next to or close by the hospitals in a 24/7 security role if the Coalition won next month’s state election.

A team of 75 PSOs would be based at Royal Melbourne Hospital as well as Dandenong, Frankston, Box Hill and Sunshine hospitals, in a two-year trial.

Amid increasing concerns over drug and alcohol-fuelled violence against hospital staff, the officers would be tasked with responding to “code grey” safety and security incidents, assisting medical workers and police.

They would also deal with difficult mental health patients if requested, ­freeing up sworn police to ­return to other operational duties.

And the PSOs would also escort hospital workers to their parked vehicles when asked.

Australian Medical Association Victoria president Dr Roderick McRae said the AMA was willing to see how a trial would fare. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Australian Medical Association Victoria president Dr Roderick McRae said the AMA was willing to see how a trial would fare, but worried the sight of armed officers could escalate situations.

“If (a patient) pulls out their own gun, then we have to be prepared for bullets flying around the workplace,” he said.

“In terms of mental health patients ... if they are thinking in a paranoid fashion that everybody on the planet is trying to kill them, it begs the question of if they see a gun on anybody’s belt, what’s going to play out in their mind?

“But we’re not against (the proposed PSO trial) because we’re open to properly founded research to see if this helps.

“We have not supported the concept in the past, but in this setting of research we’d be willing to see how it goes, but it’s got to be done well.”

Dr McRae said aggression in healthcare was a very complex issue, but reducing hours - or even days - long waits in emergency departments would arguably have the biggest impact on reducing levels of violence.

“Fundamentally the fix would be the improvement in the capacity and the management and flow of patients ... but that doesn’t help us in the short term,” he said.

“Violence has increased and it is very unpleasant.

“And it does not assist in people turning up for work tomorrow.”

None of the five hospitals mentioned in the opposition’s plan asked for PSOs in the first place, according to Premier Daniel Andrews. Picture: Jason Edwards

Asked why regional hospitals hadn’t been included in the proposed trial, Ms Crozier said she wouldn’t rule out extending the program in future.

“At this point in time, these are the five hospitals that have been determined. This is a trial,” she said.

Mr Andrews on Monday morning said issues relating to safety at hospitals were subject to assessments on a “case-by-case basis”.

“I would have thought the best thing we can do is push forward and continue to build a brand new mental health system as we are doing, not risk a change of government, particularly a change to a group of people who cut and close at every turn,” he said.

Mr Andrews said it was up to the Liberal Party to explain why they had revisited the policy, which they “junked” more than a decade ago.

“The Liberal Party made this promise in 2010 and they scrapped it in 2011,” he said.

“The shadow minister, who is spruiking it today, was on a parliamentary committee dominated by the then Liberal government who recommended to not do this, after they listened to nurses and doctors and ambos and indeed patients, so they can explain their announcement.

“I’m really not here to do that, but every Victorian can know and understand I am focused on recruiting more nurses, more doctors and more ambos into our public hospitals.”

The officers would be tasked with responding to safety and security incidents in and around the hospitals. Picture: David Crosling

But Mr Guy defended the announcement.

“That was a completely different policy,” he said.

“This is providing people on call, right next to (the hospitals), so that when the hospital chooses, they can have them.”

Under the proposed trial, officers would be armed while on duty, but lock their guns in safes before entering mental health wards, as sworn officers now do.

PSO mobile stations would be established using command vans, purpose built to Victoria Police requirements.

Funding for the initiative will cover the recruitment, training and deployment of the hospital task force.

“A government I lead will tolerate no abuse towards our valued healthcare workers,” the Opposition Leader said.

“The Liberals and Nationals are committed to fix the health crisis, and this starts by supporting our healthcare workers to feel safe and valued when carrying out their important work.”

Police Association secretary Wayne Gatt backed the initiative.

“PSOs have proven to be a major capability with Victoria Police. Our police members are called to attend hospitals daily for the transition of mental health patients, hospital guarding of prisoners and public safety activities,” he said.

“The addition of PSOs specifically to support at these locations would bolster the work that Victoria Police already performs.

“For many years we have heard unions, employers and the public express concerns regarding occupational violence at hospitals.

“Governments have conducted advertisement campaigns, introduced laws and other initiatives to try and improve safety at these locations.

“PSOs offer another preventive mechanism to keep all hospital users, staff and the community safe.”

Incidents such as this drug-affected man wielding a chair in the Royal Melbourne emergency department waiting room are all too familiar.

Opposition police spokesman Brad Battin said the new protective services officers push would free up sworn police resources and allow them to return to other beats.

“To have 75 dedicated PSOs responding to safety ­issues at some our busiest hospitals means vital police resources won’t be stretched or tied up any further, and that they can get back to responding to other emergencies,” Mr Battin said.

“Our plan to have PSOs respond from mobile stations at hospitals is backed by the Police Association of Victoria, and we’ll get to work on delivering a trial program straight away.”

But on Monday morning, the state government hit out at the plan, saying it went directly against advice.

In 2011, a Parliamentary Inquiry recommended that “ (PSOs) not be employed in Victorian hospitals and health services. Such a measure is inappropriate and contrary to the good management of security in hospitals and poses a greater safety risk.”

Mr Battin was a member of this committee.

The finding was supported by the then Liberal government.

“Victorians know that if Matthew Guy’s Liberals get the chance, they’ll cut, close and privatise again — and they’re going back to their failed and discredited PSOs policy from 2010,” the spokesperson said.

“Expert witnesses told a parliamentary committee in 2011 that this policy would actually make hospitals more dangerous.

“After they dropped the policy, Matthew Guy’s Liberals promised to use the money to make hospitals safer — but they broke that promise, too.”

NURSE UNION SLAMS PSO PLAN

The nursing union has criticised the opposition’s PSO plan, calling for better internal systems to address aggression over “headlines about … guns”.

Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Victorian branch assistant secretary Paul Gilbert said it was unclear from the “limited” details how PSOs would work alongside existing arrangements with security guards and “clinically-led” code grey.

“It may provide support for Victoria Police, but it will not work as a health response,” he said.

“We don’t need headlines about adding guns to our health services, we need leadership on the further work required by hospital managements to implement strong internal workplace systems.

“Best practice is currently happening with unarmed security guards employed by the healthcare services who have received specific training for the healthcare context.

“ANMF has questions particularly around the circumstances where a PSO would become involved rather than a police officer.”

The presence of PSOs in emergency departments could make hospitals more dangerous, a leading health organisation has warned. Picture: Wayne Taylor

Mr Gilbert said work to prevent violence – as opposed to responding when it occurs – doesn’t make headlines but “will save lives”.

“Violence and aggression unfortunately occur in all parts of the health service … not just emergency departments and mental health units,” he said.

“In 2011 the Victorian Coalition Health Minister, David Davis, shelved a similar plan and said it would never see the light of day again.

“The Opposition needs to explain what has changed and why the proposal has been recycled.”

The Victorian Healthcare Association – which represents public hospitals – has called for greater consultation with hospitals to address staff safety.

Deputy chief executive Juan Paolo Legaspi said while they support policies that increase security, they are “not aware of any evidence that armed guards would make hospitals safer”.

“The VHA is very concerned about violence and aggression in public health services,” he said.

“The VHA would like to see more consultation with hospitals about their specific needs because they are likely to want funding for different interventions.

“Some might want more funding for appropriately trained security guards, some might need more lighting in car parks, and others might want renovations to their facilities to help staff manage violent people.”

The presence of PSOs in emergency departments could make hospitals more dangerous, a leading health organisation has warned.

The Australasian College of Emergency Medicine – the peak body for emergency medicine in Australia and New Zealand – also slammed the Victorian Liberals proposal.

The College – which recently called for a security guard to be deployed to every emergency department on a 24/7 basis – said protective service officers weren’t the answer.

ACEM Chair Dr Belinda Hibble said the security guards needed in hospitals would receive specialised training to provide “compassionate, patient-centred, trauma-informed care”.

“Victorian emergency doctors have concerns about the proposal by the Victorian Liberals to have PSOs in five of Victoria’s major hospitals. Instead of making emergency departments safer, the presence of PSOs could potentially decrease safety in Victoria’s EDs for patients, staff, and carers,” Dr Hibble said.

“These security guards should be a trusted and trained part of the ED team, employed by the hospital and working closely with nurses and doctors.

“They should practice in a trauma-informed manner and be experts in calm and empathetic de-escalation.

“When you see these security guards in action, as I have, it is inspiring: they know when to step in, and when to step back. They know their communities intimately, and their communities trust them. They can read each situation and are adept at compassionately managing patients under the influence of alcohol and other drugs, or who are experiencing mental health issues.”

The Herald Sun in June ­revealed hospital staff had lodged 37 occupational violence claims this year, followed by eight cases lodged by paramedics and other healthcare services.

The severe incidents ranged from physical assaults and violence to threats, spitting and demeaning language that have led to healthcare workers being forced away from their work.

High rates of aggression also plagued the state’s healthcare workers during the height of the Covid crisis, with 112 occupational violence claims accepted in 2020 and 126 in 2021 – despite hospitals operating on a limited basis for much of that ­period.

Legislative changes would be introduced to define hospitals and their surrounds as new designated places for the deployment of protective services officers.

A Royal Melbourne Hospital study in 2020 found that more than 90 per cent of drug-fuelled violence towards hospital workers was due to crystal methamphetamine, also known as ice.

Drugs had been taken in 40 per cent of attacks and threatening incidents to which security guards had to be called, with 92 per cent of those found to be on ice.

The PSO trial would be ­reviewed after two years.