❓ Opposition questions the Premier on the adequacy of funding to address violence in hospitals, citing a 50% increase in assaults. The Premier defends the government's actions, highlighting investments in security, equipment, and alternative care pathways.
AnsweredQoN 607Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HOSPITALS —
SAFETY
607. Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP to the Premier:
I refer to the Minister for Health's
announcement of a $5 million injection to address assaults on hardworking
nurses and doctors. Does the Premier admit that this $5 million is simply a bandaid
solution to address the serious and systemic issues of violence in our
hospitals, which include a 50 per cent increase in the levels of assaults?
SAFETY
607. Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP to the Premier:
I refer to the Minister for Health's
announcement of a $5 million injection to address assaults on hardworking
nurses and doctors. Does the Premier admit that this $5 million is simply a bandaid
solution to address the serious and systemic issues of violence in our
hospitals, which include a 50 per cent increase in the levels of assaults?
AnswerView source ↗
I have spoken in recent months to
people impacted by violence in our health system, and obviously they are very
distressed. I have spoken to family members of nurses who are very distressed
by some of the behaviour that is exhibited in our hospitals by some of the
people who are in the emergency departments or who are patients. Often this is
related to drug use and people impacted by methamphetamine. It is obviously a major
issue, so we recently made an investment in additional security. We have also
provided some support for staff with stab-proof vests, and duress alarms have
been made available to some of the staff in emergency departments across the
hospitals to ensure that they at least have that level of support and
protection.
It is obviously a problem, and we do
not shy away from that. The additional investment we made recently was, I thought,
quite significant. This is not something that has just arrived as an issue;
this has been an issue now for a long time, which is why we made a commitment
during the last state election campaign to beef up security with duress alarms
and stab-proof vests. They were not in place before that. The Minister for
Health and I are also putting in place some urgent care clinics, particularly
the one at Royal Perth Hospital. I think the hospital that has had the most
issues is Royal Perth. There is an urgent care clinic at that hospital designed
to ensure that some of the people who might be impacted or affected by alcohol
or drugs have an alternative pathway with additional security in there. The
government is doing a fair bit about this, and I urge the opposition to be
supportive.
people impacted by violence in our health system, and obviously they are very
distressed. I have spoken to family members of nurses who are very distressed
by some of the behaviour that is exhibited in our hospitals by some of the
people who are in the emergency departments or who are patients. Often this is
related to drug use and people impacted by methamphetamine. It is obviously a major
issue, so we recently made an investment in additional security. We have also
provided some support for staff with stab-proof vests, and duress alarms have
been made available to some of the staff in emergency departments across the
hospitals to ensure that they at least have that level of support and
protection.
It is obviously a problem, and we do
not shy away from that. The additional investment we made recently was, I thought,
quite significant. This is not something that has just arrived as an issue;
this has been an issue now for a long time, which is why we made a commitment
during the last state election campaign to beef up security with duress alarms
and stab-proof vests. They were not in place before that. The Minister for
Health and I are also putting in place some urgent care clinics, particularly
the one at Royal Perth Hospital. I think the hospital that has had the most
issues is Royal Perth. There is an urgent care clinic at that hospital designed
to ensure that some of the people who might be impacted or affected by alcohol
or drugs have an alternative pathway with additional security in there. The
government is doing a fair bit about this, and I urge the opposition to be
supportive.
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