Push to deter attacks on health workers

People who attack health workers should face tougher penalties at sentencing, health leaders say.

The Government has signalled a law change to make attacks on police and prison staff an aggravating factor at sentencing

Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) chairman Alister James has asked the Government to include frontline health workers in the new legislation. He approached Health Minister Tony Ryall, who said he would discuss the request with Justice Minister Simon Power.

James said he was concerned about reports of a growing number of attacks on health staff.

"The view could be taken that frontline health workers, including ambulance officers and staff in emergency departments (EDs) and other health facilities, are in vulnerable positions like police and prison officers," he said. "It might encourage more health workers to report these incidents."

In the past year there have been 527 reported assaults on CDHB staff, with 360 in the area of mental health. Older persons' health accounted for 69 attacks, medical-surgical 62, of which four were in the ED, and women's-children's health two.

James said the high number of assaults in the areas of mental health and older persons' health were often by people who did not have the mental capacity to understand what they were doing.

"In sober moments, they are very regretful and quite ashamed," he said.

Many assaults were committed by people affected by alcohol or drugs.

James said the health board was looking at what more could be done to keep its staff safe.

New Zealand Nurses Organisation industrial adviser Glenda Alexander said the union supported James' proposal.

"Abuse is not acceptable for anybody trying to deliver a public service in any area," she said.

Physical and verbal assaults were becoming part of the job for nurses, and it was "not appropriate".

"It doesn't matter if people have been drinking, incapacitated, in pain – it still doesn't give them the right to assault somebody else," she said.

"Staff are always really reluctant to make complaints. That's why it's hidden. The real statistics would be quite shocking to the public."

A St John spokesman said the organisation would support frontline health workers being included in the new legislation. There were more than 40 attacks on ambulance officers over the past year, he said.

- © Fairfax NZ News