THERE were 221 incidents of abuse, threats or assaults against staff at South West Healthcare in the past financial year.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The data revealed in the hospital’s 2017-18 annual report which showed there were 67 more incidents then in the 2016-17 financial year.
South West Coast MP Roma Britnell said it was quite worrying to see such a big increase in reports of violence against doctors and nurses.
“It’s not okay and more needs to be done to ensure people who are just doing their jobs are safe from violent attacks from the people they are trying to help,” she said.
Mrs Britnell, a nurse for 30 years, said the opposition had introduced a bill to parliament calling for stronger punishment for people who knowingly assault emergency service workers.
She said accident and emergency had always been a volatile area but the problem was getting worse for all emergency service workers out in the field.
