The Government will spend $5.7 million to boost emergency department security this summer.
Health Minister Shane Reti announced the funding today at Auckland City Hospital. It will pay for an extra 200 security staff in 93 full-time equivalent roles.
Reti said the Government had listened to emergency department staff about an increase in violent incidents in hospitals.
"That’s why we’ve committed to these additional workers to help keep patients – and our hard-working doctors, nurses and other ED staff – safe during a particularly busy time.
“The safety of the health workforce and patients has to be a priority. These staff will be ready to provide round-the-clock cover and the first people are on the ground already."
Eight higher risk emergency departments will each receive an additional five security staff for an extended period, until the end of February.
Those are at each of the four Auckland hospitals, as well as Waikato, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.
A further 24 emergency departments near summer "hotspots" will each receive between two and five additional security staff to help manage pressures over the summer holiday peak period.
Those staff would be available through to mid-January or late February, depending on individual needs.
Reti, a former GP, said the initiative addresses an "immediate need" but he was also committed to "working urgently" on a longer-term plan to improve security across hospitals.
“In 2021, Health NZ reported 1179 assaults, rising to 3459 in 2022. In the first three months of 2023, 1267 assaults were reported. If this trend continues, it will have exceeded 5000 reported incidents in 2023."
He said that was "totally unacceptable".
“There’s no place for people being abusive or aggressive towards staff, who are doing their absolute best for their fellow New Zealanders in often stressful situations.
“Emergency departments in particular are a vital part of our health system, and all New Zealanders, and the people caring for them, need to feel confident they will be safe when they walk through the door.
“These 200 staff are early steps in making a tangible difference to safety, as this government moves increased support out of the back office and into the frontline of health."
Earlier this year, Dr Kate Allan of the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine told Breakfast that while emergency departments could be chaotic at the best of times, things were getting dangerous.
“As it’s become more crowded, as we’ve had more stress on our communities, and people are coming to us in really vulnerable states,” she said.
It comes as violence against health workers in emergency departments has risen dramatically over the past few years. (Source: Breakfast)
“There are lots of reasons people can become agitated, and they are experiencing excessively long waits.
“With all of that, it all bubbles up, and you get to a point that the chaos is just overwhelming, and you get violence and aggression.”
'Higher risk' hospitals
North Shore, Waitākere, Auckland City, Middlemore, Waikato, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin
'Hotspot' hospitals
Bay of Islands, Dargaville, Kaitaia, Whangārei, Tauranga, Whakatāne, Rotorua, Taupō, Taranaki Base, Te Kuiti, Thames, Tokoroa, Taumarunui, Hawke’s Bay, Wairarapa, Hutt Valley, Nelson, Wairau, Ashburton, Buller, Te Nikau Greymouth, Timaru, Lakes District, Invercargill
SHARE ME