See the data: 80,000 ‘Code Black’ incidents at SA Health hospitals in seven years prompts calls for urgent action

Abusive patients are making the workplaces of our frontline health staff more dangerous than ever, frightening new figures reveal.

Police at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, which had the most levels of “Code Black” incidents. Picture: Calum Robertson

Fearful frontline health workers are urgently calling for help almost 30 times a day on average, amid escalating levels of violent and threatening incidents in the state’s hospitals, official figures show.

New SA Health data reveals clinicians and hospital staff made almost 80,000 “code black” calls to combat dangerous and abusive patients, families or supporters in seven years.

Total cases surged more than a third, from 8,284 incidents in 2016 – when all health networks first recorded uniform data – to almost 11,200 cases last year.

Police and Ambulances at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, which had the worst rates of “Code Black” incidents. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

Clinicians say emergency departments record high levels of “Code Blacks”. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

Police were called almost 1500 times for extreme cases – once almost every two days – as clinicians warn drugs and more complex mental health patients worsen the crisis.

Based on statistics to April this year, total code blacks, and police interventions, could hit record levels in 2023.

Health Minister Chris Picton condemned any attacks on doctors, nurses and other staff “who give their all to care for South Australians” each day.

“Anyone who attacks or threatens a nurse or doctor is an outright scumbag,” he said.

“It is outrageous that anyone would put our hard working health care workers at risk.

“Anyone who threatens these workers needs to face the full force of the law.”

Data shows urgent calls almost quadrupled at country hospitals in six regional local health networks since 2016.

Health Minister Chris Picton was blunt as he condemned anyone who attacks hardworking healthcare staff “an outright scumbag”. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

Metropolitan incidents spiked nearly 40 per cent in that time.

The Royal Adelaide Hospital recorded the most with 25,130 cases. next highest was 16,379 at Lyell McEwin Hospital and 15,991 at Flinders Medical Centre. More than 4100 were at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

Most Code Black cases are patients threatening and attacking others or self-harm incidents.

But it also includes staff attempts to de-escalate confrontations.

Clinicians reported extreme cases including 21 assaults in a months at a 16-bed unit, patients concealing weapons such as knives, staff stabbed or knocked unconscious and equipment smashed.

In October 2021, six Port Lincoln police officers – the entire on-duty force – had to restrain a man who punched, bit and spat at emergency staff.

Mental health nurse James Baker. Picture. Supplied

Taxpayers spend $40m a year on security guards at all Adelaide hospitals but only larger regional facilities at Port Lincoln, Port Augusta, Whyalla and Mount Gambier.

Mr Picton this week met the nurses’ union, which demanded urgent action on its 10-point anti-violence plan, which hospitals were “sluggish” adopting.

SA Health is also reviewing “challenging behaviour” rules.

Mental health nurse Jim Baker, 67, of Kilburn, said it was the worst he’d seen in a 49 year career: “It’s got very bad.”

Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation secretary, Elizabeth Dabars, called for “24/7 restraint-trained security guards” guards at other country hospitals including Port Pirie, Wallaroo, Berri and Murray Bridge.

“These alarming … statistics are a damning indictment on the failure of our health system to provide a safe environment,” she said.

“Nurses, midwives and other healthcare professionals cannot wait in fear for the next terrifying incident of violence and aggression. We need action now.”

SA Salaried Medical Officers Association, chief industrial officer, Bernadette Mulholland, said long waits in crowded areas left patients “very agitated and aggressive”.

Elizabeth Dabars called for better protections of nurses. Picture: Mark Brake

Bernadette Mulholland said overcrowding was fuelling the rise. Picture: Matt Loxton

“When incidents do occur frontline health workers should be supported rather than blamed which occurs in some circumstances,” she said.

“In addition to appropriate security to help handle individual incidents is important, what is fundamental is making sure there is a suitable treating environment and rapid attention for people in the first place. (This) gets back to proper resourcing.”

The Opposition called for “zero tolerance”.

“To protect frontline health workers the former Liberal Government boosted security at public hospitals, including a significant investment in physical security upgrades across the state,” a spokesman said.

“In addition, the former Liberal Government also introduced the toughest laws in state history to protect our frontline health workers with a maximum 15-year jail sentence for anyone who causes harm to or assaults a prescribed worker.”

Originally published as See the data: 80,000 ‘Code Black’ incidents at SA Health hospitals in seven years prompts calls for urgent action