Five staff were assaulted by a patient at Waikato Hospital. A security guard who was seriously assaulted in an attack at Waikato Hospital has been hailed a hero for saving nurses from the oxygen cylinder wielding patient. The patient was being treated at a surgical ward at Waikato Hospital around 2am on Wednesday when they lashed out. The female guard is in the high dependency unit and is now awaiting surgery, a source says. The source, who did not want to be identified, said the guard was “messed up”. “She is having surgery on her hand later, and behind all the swelling and bruising, her face is broken. “The nurses are calling her a hero. “She effectively saved them from being more seriously injured.” The source understands the guard witnessed at least two nurses being attacked by a patient with an oxygen cylinder and stepped in to help. Waikato District health Board Executive Director of Public Affairs, Lydia Aydon, confirmed five staff members – four nurses and one security guard – were assaulted.
May 17, 2019
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation and RSL Care RDNS Limited will contest a s.739 (Application to deal with a dispute) before Fair Work Commissioner Wilson in Court 10 – Level 5 in Melbourne.
May 17, 2019
The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency is facing a s.739 (Application to deal with a dispute) in front of Deputy President Beaumont in chambers in WA (Corney).
May 17, 2019
Central Coast Living Options facing a s.394 (Application for unfair dismissal remedy) before Fair Work Deputy President Sams in Hearing Room 11-1 – Level 11 in Sydney (Antaw-Molloy).
May 16, 2019
Advanced Health Invest Pty Ltd is running a s.604 (Appeal of decisions) before Fair Work Deputy President Gostencnik in Hearing Room 11-3 – Level 11 in Sydney (Chan).
May 16, 2019
Health Minister Roger Cook has released figures showing a staggering 38 per cent increase in assaults on nurses, with an alarming uptick in violence against health staff at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. Government data showed assaults on nurses across the WA health system had jumped from 703 incidents in the second half of 2017 to 971 incidents during the same period in 2018. Most of the growth in assaults had come from Sir Charles Gairdner, where there were 265 more assaults on nurses for the given periods this year than last. It comes days after a 55-year-old nurse at Royal Perth Hospital was allegedly stabbed in the neck by a patient with a makeshift blade.
May 16, 2019
St John of God Midland Public Hospital staff said that a senior nurse was punched in the face by a man just after 9pm last night. The nurse received a black eye but was back at work today. The alleged attacks come as statistics reveal an incident of aggression was reported at a WA hospital at an average of once every hour last year. Health Minister Roger Cook said the circumstances of the incident and what led to it needed to be investigated.
May 16, 2019
A man charged with stabbing a nurse at Royal Perth Hospital on Sunday had been arrested by police hours earlier on an unrelated warrant. A police spokesman said the 30-year-old was already on his way to the hospital when police arrested him. Due to the serious nature of his medical condition, he was released into the hospital’s care and arrangements were made to apprehend him again once he had received treatment. In the meantime, it is alleged he used a makeshift weapon to stab a 55-year-old female nurse in the neck when she had her back turned about 1:30am on Sunday. The nurse was treated in the hospital and has since been discharged. The 30-year-old Gnowangerup man was taken back into police custody and charged with the aggravated assault of a public officer and weapons offences. He is due to face Perth Magistrates Court later this month on those charges, and separate charges of aggravated assault and stealing a car. The Australian Medical Association of WA yesterday condemned the alleged incident and called for more security staff in the state’s hospitals.
