Health Minister Natasha Fyles defends decision to keep stabbing of a security guard at RDH a secret

NT Health Minister Natasha Fyles has admitted the stabbing of a security guard by a patient at the Royal Darwin Hospital was not made public.

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NT HEALTH Minister Natasha Fyles has revealed a stabbing of a security guard by a patient at the Royal Darwin Hospital was not made public.

The incident, which took place in the hospital’s emergency department in early May, left the staff member with injuries after a patient assaulted them in an “operational incident”.

Ms Fyles told Katie Woolf on Mix104.9 on Tuesday the incident was “unacceptable” but defended the decision to not make the public aware of it.

“In terms of the incident and why it wasn’t recorded … we don’t put everything out into the media,” she said.

“These incidents sadly do take place and that staff member – the situation would be escalated, the patient was treated and transferred into an appropriate unit, but that staff member is being supported.”

Ms Fyles said any aggression or violence towards frontline health workers would not be tolerated.

“Our health workers are doing a tough job in trying circumstances and people need to respect that if they’re accessing medical services,” she said.

The incident comes as concerns are being raised over capacity issues at the hospital.

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