Royal Darwin Hospital: NT Health gets rid of loose items in ED to prevent assaults on staff

A former Royal Darwin Hospital nurse says the throwing of items by frustrated patients or family in the ED occurred almost daily, applauding NT Health for new safety measures that were announced recently.

Emergency & Trauma Center of the Royal Darwin Hospital in Darwin (Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP)

A former nurse at the Royal Darwin Hospital has applauded NT Health for its moves to remove anything from the emergency department waiting room that could be thrown or wielded as a weapon, saying flying items occurred daily.

Earlier this month, NT Health confirmed it was in the process of implementing “additional safety measures” at the hospital.

The beefed-up measures included an “increased security presence in the RDH emergency department and removal of all objects that are not fixed down or can be lifted easily by one person from the waiting area”.

They came in response to a number of “safety concerns and incidents,” for which the department continued to liaise with NT Police.

Emergency & Trauma Center of the Royal Darwin Hospital in Darwin. Picture: DAVID GRAY / AFP

A former nurse at the hospital, who worked there for approximately three years, predominantly in the intensive care unit but with regular ED shifts, said the additional measures were necessary.

“I can understand why they bolted everything down or removed items,” he told the NT News.

“We had patients or family members throwing anything they could get their hands on at staff. “It used to happen at least a couple times per day.”

Opposition health spokesman Bill Yan said the fact NT Health had been driven to bolt everything down and remove loose items from the ED waiting area showed they had lost control.

“The fact we are now bolting things down so they can’t be used as weapons shows how unsafe it’s been allowed to become within our health sector, and the assaults that we have seen on our health workers is a matter that needs to be addressed,” he said.

NT Health bins loose items at RDH to stop staff assaults

February 4: Health bosses are in the process of removing all items that are not fixed in place, and can be lifted by a single person, in the Royal Darwin Hospital emergency department waiting area to prevent them from being used as weapons against staff.

The NT News understands the measures have been phased in after a handful of particularly violent episodes that terrified and traumatised staff at the hospital.

NT Health confirmed new safety measures were being implemented on top of those already in place, such as a 24/7 patrolling of the campus by security officers.

“Work is underway to implement additional safety measures to help improve safety for all staff, including an increased security presence in the RDH emergency department and removal of all objects that are not fixed down or can be lifted easily by one person from the waiting area,” a spokeswoman said.

“RDH is continuing to meet with NT Police to review opportunities for enhanced collaboration and processes in response to safety concerns and incidents.”

The spokeswoman said the safety of its workforce is “paramount” and that NT Health was committed to doing all it could to safeguard staff health and wellbeing.

“NT Health is committed to a zero tolerance approach to aggression against employees,” she said.

“A safe and supportive working environment is essential for healthcare workers to be able to provide quality care to the community.

“It is important hospital visitors respect all staff.

“While most people are courteous, it is disappointing there have been incidents where health workers who are doing their best to assist are impacted by aggressive behaviour and abuse from members of the community.

ANMF NT secretary Cath Hatcher. Picture: Facebook

“NT Health staff undertake targeted programs including mandatory orientation and ongoing training and development in managing violence and aggression within the workplace.”

An NT Police spokeswoman said the organisation was unable to provide details of recent incidents at the RDH without being provided specific dates of alleged offending.

“NT Police continue to work closely with NT Health to ensure that appropriate measures are in place for the safety of their staff, patients and visitors,” she said.

Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation NT secretary Cath Hatcher told the NT News the department’s responses were a “good move”.

She also said that a focus on providing security staff with de-escalation training has been paying dividends.

Ms Hatcher said verbal and physical violence visited upon hospital staff was not unique to the Territory.

“The RDH emergency department does have a higher rate of presentations per capita than the other states and territories, so that just makes it worse,” she said.