Nurse treated for broken wrist after alleged assault in Sydney hospital
The NSW government is recruiting 129 extra security guards to combat violence in emergency department, as two were nurses were allegedly assaulted at a Sydney hospital this week.
Two nurses at Sydney's Concord Hospital have been injured after allegedly being assaulted by a female patient, according to Health Minister Ryan Park. The attack occurred on Tuesday, with the 44-year-old patient restrained and sedated following the incident. Both nurses required medical attention, one of whom suffered a broken wrist, requiring care.
Bruce Rowling, a security guard at Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital, shared his experience of being injured on the job. He recounted how he held down a male patient who had been told he was moving to another hospital but became aggressive, swinging and punching the doctor before Mr. Rowling could sedate him. The incident resulted in Mr. Rowling's thumb being pulled out of its socket, requiring medical treatment.
Health Services Union secretary Gerard Hayes expressed his support for the additional security staff, stating that the new hires would help prevent violent incidents before they occur. He emphasized that hospitals are a microcosm of the community and that the current pressures and anxiety within the community have contributed to the rise in incidents.
The announcement of the recruitment of 129 extra security guards across 27 hospitals in New South Wales coincided with the assault at Concord Hospital. Police have reported a rise in violent incidents in larger hospitals, particularly those with high-volume emergency departments, such as Westmead Hospital, Prince of Wales Hospital, and Royal North Shore Hospital.
The increase in violence is attributed to changes in drug use, particularly the use of methamphetamine, which can bring frightening issues for staff and security officers.
Mr. Park highlighted the need for additional resources and close collaboration with police to manage the behavior of patients, particularly those under the influence of methamphetamine. He also mentioned the ongoing underworld crime in Sydney and its impact on hospital security, with friends and relatives of patients sometimes causing disturbances.
While security guards receive training, they do not have any additional powers beyond those of the average citizen, such as the ability to ask someone to leave if they are misbehaving.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
