Werribee Mercy Hospital has welcomed a state government taskforce aimed at reducing attacks on hospital staff.
The government has established an occupational violence taskforce, headed by Worksafe chief executive Clare Amies, to identify issues and recommend reforms to reduce violence at Victorian hospitals.
A recent report by the Victorian Auditor-General found that nurses, doctors, paramedics and other healthcare workers were at increased risk of violence and employers were not doing enough to keep them safe.
Werribee Mercy Hospital recorded more than 205 “incidents of aggression” towards staff in the past two financial years.
There were 122 incidents in 2013-14 and 83 between July 1, 2014, and May 31 this year.
State Health Minister Jill Hennessy said the full extent of violence in Victorian hospitals was unknown because of under-reporting of incidents and a lack of consistent or comparable data.
“Violence in any workplace is unacceptable, but it’s particularly concerning that those who care for others – often at their most vulnerable – face an increased risk of violence,” Ms Hennessy said.
“The state government is committed to reducing violence against doctors, nurses and mental health workers and we want to work with them to make our hospitals safer.”
Mercy Health chief executive of health services Linda Mellors welcomed the taskforce.
“The safety of our patients and staff is our first priority,” she said.
“Mercy Health follows government- mandated protocols for the reporting of all incidents in health care.”
Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Victoria branch secretary Lisa Fitzpatrick was also pleased by the news.
“There’s an unacceptable level of occupational violence and aggression in Victoria’s public hospital system,” she said.
“This taskforce confirms a renewed willingness of Worksafe to work with the Department of Health and Human Services and employers to ensure Victoria’s hospitals and healthcare facilities become safe.”
