'Difficult and shocking environment': nurses rally over assault | TheMattBungard laura_r_chung
One nurse was left with facial fractures as a spate of assaults at Blacktown Hospital has staff threatening industrial action if safety conditions are not improved.
“Nurses and midwives show up to work to care for their patients. They do not show up to be assaulted in their workplace," Mr Holmes said.“It’s quite a difficult and shocking environment to be in to try and manage these people,” he said.The unit has 25 beds, of which eight are located in a locked room. Patients are placed in the room for greater specialised care, particularly if they are unwell, confused, aggressive or posing a risk to themselves, other patients or staff.
The nurses want greater staff resources, including a minimum of three nurses rostered on at the locked unit and more security guards, as well as an individual assessment of each patient's needs in case a one-to-one care approach is more appropriate.But Mr Holmes acknowledged there is no simple solution and said there is a need for ongoing discussions between staff and hospital management.
Hospital management says they have increased nursing staff levels, boosted security presence on the ward and initiated daily reviews of patient management plans. They have also increased the number of mobile personal duress alarms across the hospital.
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