Nurses at Wallaroo and Port Pirie hospitals will don purple scrubs to draw greater attention to the urgent bid for 24/7 restraint-trained security guards.
From this week, the nurses will swap their standard uniforms for the characteristic purple ANMF (SA Branch) scrub tops following inaction and a clear lack of commitment from the Yorke and Northern Local Health Network (YNLHN).
There will also be flyers on site at hospitals to provide greater context to the issue and call for further community support.
“This is one measure members are taking to highlight their vulnerability within the workplace and their united determination to be proactive about their safety,’’ ANMF (SA Branch) CEO/Secretary Adj Associate Professor Elizabeth Dabars AM said.
“We will join them in continuing to agitate for the safety of staff, patients and the broader community, which is at risk without the implementation of guards.”
It comes after the latest regional incident involving violence occurred last week at Riverland General Hospital in Berri, where a patient threw punches at staff in the emergency department, hurled chairs and broke ambulance bay doors by repeatedly hitting them with his fists.
Online petitions for 24/7 restraint-trained security guards at both Wallaroo and Port Pirie hospitals have received a collective 2000 signatures to date, with similar campaigns underway for Berri and Murray Bridge.
“We know through feedback from other regional hospitals that do have 24/7 restraint-trained security guards, as is the case in Whyalla, Port Augusta and Port Lincoln, that the presence of such guards has had a positive impact in reducing violent incidents and psychological injury to staff,’’ Ms Dabars said.
“All metropolitan hospitals have security staff who can support clinicians to provide protection from harm, whilst clinicians attend to clinical tasks. Nurses cannot provide adequate care to the community if they are also watching their back for the next assault.”
Ms Dabars recently condemned the “sluggish bureaucracy” which had so far failed to implement security measures, despite the state government having committed to addressing the ANMF’s 10 Point Plan to End Violence and Aggression at each Local Health Network.
“ANMF (SA Branch) members at Wallaroo and Port Pirie will continue to wear purple scrub tops until the YNLHN agrees to prioritise their safety at work,” she said.
“We need action now.”