Toowoomba Hospital is a hotspot for assault charges
Toowoomba Hospital has emerged as one of the city’s most dangerous places to work after police recorded 27 assault charges in or near its grounds in the past 12 months.
Toowoomba
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The rates of assaults charges at Toowoomba’s major public hospital have increased marginally, up from 18 in the previous 12 months period.
The Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union spokeswoman put the worrying rates of violence down to increased presentations at the hospital, a growth in mental illness rates and stress related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
For example, a nurse at the Acute Mental Health Unit suffered serious injuries during an assault on July 19, 2019.
He was attacked by a 32-year-old Corrective Services inmate who was being treated at the unit.
A Darling Downs Health spokeswoman said the hospital had a “zero-tolerance” policy towards violence and asked all staff or patients to speak up if they witnessed it.
“All our frontline staff are required to undertake occupational violence prevention training and security staff are provided with ongoing training in the management of violence in the workplace,” she said.
“We also regularly review and upgrade our security measures to ensure our staff, patients, visitors and the community continue to be safe in our facilities.”
While the hospital is a flashpoint for assault, the greatest number of charges stem from altercations on Margaret St, near Grand Central.
The stretch from Victoria St to Clifford St recorded 38 assaults in the past 12 months, according to Queensland Police Service data.
This was followed by the corner of Russell St and Ruthven St, with 11 assault charges.
There were 10 assault charges recorded at the Toowoomba Police Station.
