Hospital warned of violent psychiatric patient before guard’s stabbing, whistleblowers say

A psychiatric patient who stabbed a security guard at Royal Darwin Hospital last month had spent 12 hours in the emergency department before the incident, hospital sources say.

A psychiatric patient who stabbed a security guard at Royal Darwin Hospital last month had spent 12 hours in the emergency department before the incident, hospital sources say

• Special report: Royal Darwin Hospital hits crisis point as whistleblower staff speak out
• Health Minister Natasha Fyles defends decision to keep stabbing of a security guard at RDH a secret

A PSYCHIATRIC patient who stabbed a security guard at Royal Darwin Hospital last month had spent 12 hours in the emergency department before the incident, hospital sources say.

Whistleblowers say the hospital had been warned of the urgent need to remove the patient from the emergency department on the morning of the incident but no action was taken.

Health Minister Natasha Fyles has defended the decision not let the public know about the stabbing of a security guard at Royal Darwin Hospital. Picture Glenn Campbell

“This patient had a known history of violence but due to the shortage of mental health beds he had been stuck in ED for more than 12 hours at the time of the incident,” a concerned staff member said.

“He had an extremely violent outburst, attacked the two security guards assigned to his cubicle, escaped into the main waiting room, grabbed a pair of scissors from a trolley and stabbed another security officer.”

Staff say the hospital had been warned about the potentially dangerous situation before the incident occurred.

“The violent patient had been flagged that morning … as urgently needing to get out of ED due to the risk to staff,” the staff member said.

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“There were already too many mental health patients in the main tower-block (in) non-mental health wards, and no capacity to take the ED mental health patients anywhere.”

The stabbing was not made public when it occurred on May 4.

Health Minister Natasha Fyles confirmed the incident after it was revealed on Mix 104.9 on Tuesday.

Ms Fyles said the incident was “unacceptable” but defended the decision not to make it public.

“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,” she said.

In response to questions, an NT Health spokesperson said: “An incident occurred in the Royal Darwin Hospital Emergency Department in early May 2021.

“Whenever an incident occurs, support is provided to staff including the opportunity for counselling.

“NT Health cannot comment further on individual patient circumstances.”