Western Health releases tender for carpark security patrols, as union claims it is a hotspot for violence

BEEFED-up security will ­patrol the carparks of three Melbourne hospitals in a bid to crack down on violence against doctors and nurses.

Footscray Hospital will have new mobile security patrols. Picture: Andy Brownbill

BEEFED-up security will patrol the carparks of three Melbourne hospitals in a bid to crack down on violence against doctors and nurses.

The mobile security teams will monitor the carparks at Sunshine, Footscray and Sunbury Day hospitals for an hour during nightshift changeovers.

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A tender released by Western Health said the security must “maintain high visibility” so staff felt safe leaving the hospital doors and walking to their cars.

Staff will also be able to request “an escort” to their cars.

It comes after a number of attacks in and around hospitals, including a serious assault that killed Box Hill Hospital surgeon Patrick Pritzwald-Stegmann.

Footscray Hospital was also the site of a stabbing attack on a brain surgeon in 2014.

Dr Michael Wong was stabbed 14 times in the foyer of the western suburbs hospital but survived the attack.

Health Workers Union secretary Diana Asmar said Western Health staff were “run off their feet” dealing with violence.

“Western Health is a hotspot for violent incidences against staff,” she said.

“It is so frequent that much of it still goes unreported.

“Wherever there is an abundance of the drug ice in our community, there is violence against health workers.

“More often than not, it’s our HWU security and clerical members that cop the brunt of that violence”.

Health Minister Jill Hennessy says medical staff deserve to feel safe at work. Picture: Mark Stewart

Western Health’s health support services divisional director Christine Neumann said the patrols were expected to start in mid-February.

“The establishment of mobile patrols will allow our core security team to maintain their focus on supporting the internal operations of our hospitals without having to be divert their attention to patrolling car parks,” she said.

The presence of a highly visible mobile patrol will provide value in terms of deterrence and enhance current staff safety.”

The government doubled its Health Service Violence Prevention Fund to $40 million of Dr Pritzwald-Stegmann’s attack.

Health Minister Jill Hennessy said doctors and nurses deserved to feel safe at work.

“There is just no excuse whatsoever for aggression towards staff in our hospitals,” she said.

“Sadly, too often health workers are confronted with abuse and threats, all while doing their best caring for us at our most vulnerable.”

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