NURSES and paramedics are calling on Western Health to employ permanent security guards amid concerns of growing violence in emergency departments.
The Australian Nursing Federation wants the state government to increase urgently the number of guards at western suburbs hospitals and end the outsourcing of security personnel.
It follows a call from the Health Services Union for security guards to be given guns to protect themselves and the public.
Paramedic Matt Di Toro says paramedics are encountering increasing numbers of highly unpredictable, aggressive, and violent patients.
“Patients under the influence of drugs exhibit strength and aggression they would not otherwise have and often become increasingly confused and disoriented when they are taken into emergency departments and surrounded by unfamiliar people.”
He said while hospital security guards were doing a good job, they were being stretched by increased demand. Australian Nursing Federation secretary Lisa Fitzpatrick said Western Health emergency department nurses were being flooded with violent and aggressive patients and visitors.
She called for mental health liaison nurses in every emergency department on all shifts and said the government also needed to address major causes of violence including lengthy waiting times.
Western Health director Christine Neumann confirmed incidents involving violence and threats occurred from time to time that were very frightening for staff. She said these were addressed immediately with a full review of how the incident occurred and an assessment of what measures needed to be put in place.
Ms Neumann said security was a continuing concern not only at Western Health but all emergency departments.
The government maintains it has funded specialised training for security guards at Western Health hospitals. Health Minister David Davis did not respond before the Weekly went to print.
