Doctor’s bombshell ‘mass shooting’ fears at Flinders Medical Centre amid surge in hospital violence

A “mass shooting” was narrowly avoided at Flinders Medical Centre, a doctor claims, amid a frightening surge in hospital violence.

• Patients stuck ‘up to three days’ in EDs

A bombshell report to SafeWork SA shows one doctor says a “mass shooting” was narrowly avoided Flinders Medical Centre when a violent patient lunged for a Police Security Officer’s firearm – a claim SA Police has denied.

Now, frontline doctors are demanding stab vests as violence in emergency departments soars, with 23 reports of assaults against staff reported at Flinders Medical Centre and Noarlunga Hospital in the past 12 weeks.

The surge in violence comes as EDs are chronically jammed, working above capacity leaving ambulances ramped.

Ambulance Employees Association state secretary Paul Ekkelboom revealed delays linked to ramping may have contributed to the death of a southern suburbs cardiac arrest patient on the weekend, with paramedics taking “17 to 18 minutes” to arrive instead of the target eight minutes. However the government says the incident was outside the eight minute target area.

Flinders Medical Centre. Picture: Brett Hartwig

An inspection of FMC by SA Salaried Medical Officers Association chief industrial officer Bernadette Mulholland found 16 contraventions of safe work conditions.

Her report to SafeWork SA says doctors told the inspection on June 20 a mental health patient in ED had “attempted to grab the police officer’s firearm at least once.”

Aftermath of a patient rampage in Flinders Medical Centre’s ED detailed in a SASMOA report to SafeWork SA. Picture: Supplied

The violent patient was sleeping near another patient’s cubicle who was under police guard.

“The police officer who was looking after their patient was unaware the patient in the other cubicle had awoken,” the report states. “The police officer had their back to the patient who launched at the police officer and tried to grab the officer’s gun.

“The fear ran right through the medical staff, one doctor stated ‘this was a near miss, critical incident, mass shooting’.”

However SAPOL says: “One of the Police Security Officers was approached by a patient from an adjacent cubicle, however, at no time did this patient grab at the PSO’s firearm, nor did the PSO perceive that this patient presented a risk to the member’s safety.

“The PSO did direct the patient to move away, and they were escorted back to their bed.”

Ms Mulholland’s report states: “I was told a doctor has … asked for a ‘stab vest’ that will protect him from being stabbed because the violence has got so bad in the ED.”

Stab vests, similar to this one, could help to protect frontline staff at South Australian hospitals. Photo: PPSS Group

Doctors detailed the case of a patient who stormed out of his cubicle yelling “I will destroy everything,” tearing down curtains, throwing objects at staff, smashing a window, computers and other equipment as staff fled.

Another patient brought in by police became violent, breaking doors before he “headbutted an airlock door, smashing the glass.”

SA Health Minister Chris Picton said there was “zero tolerance for violence and abuse” in SA hospitals.

He said the government was committed to increasing security, including additional 24/7 security guards.

Opposition health spokeswoman Ashton Hurn said an ED should be a place of care, not violence.

“It is deeply troubling that doctors are asking for stab proof vests in order to be safe at work and shows we have a health system under incredible strain,” she said.

Southern Adelaide Local Health Network ceo Kerrie Mahon said patient and staff safety is the number one priority.

“We recognise the increasing demand of mental health patients which is why we are building an additional 24 mental health rehabilitation beds at Noarlunga Hospital and 12 mental health beds at the Margaret Tobin Centre, FMC,” she said.

Originally published as Doctor’s bombshell ‘mass shooting’ fears at Flinders Medical Centre amid surge in hospital violence