Emergency doctors across New Zealand say extra security provided to emergency departments over summer was "a mixed bag" — depending on the quality of training and support provided to security staff.
The Government spent $5.7 million to boost emergency department security over the busy Christmas and New Year period following an Australasian College for Emergency Medicine warning that violence was increasing in admittance departments.
Health Minister Shane Reti announced the funding would pay for an extra 200 security staff in 93 full-time equivalent roles at a number of "high risk" and "hotspot" hospitals across the country.
Australasian College for Emergency Medicine Aotearoa New Zealand chair Dr Kate Allan said she has heard "a range of feedback" on the initiative from emergency departments — with some reporting that some security staff did not seem to be appropriately trained, integrated, or supported.
"Therefore, they were unable to communicate effectively with patients, visitors and whānau or respond effectively to safety issues.
"Other doctors reported that their emergency departments did not receive any security, leaving staff feeling 'unsafe and unsupported'," she said.
Allan said emergency staff said that security who had been appropriately trained and integrated in their communities were "amazing, proactive, and useful".
"Other colleagues reported that the presence of extra security reduced instances of verbal abuse, and 'kept a lid' on things after violent incidents," she said.
Allan said the feedback indicated the programme worked and wants every emergency department in New Zealand to have 24/7 carefully selected security staff who are culturally aware and skilled in de-escalation techniques moving forward.
"These people will be key members of the ED team and will free up doctors and nurses to focus on delivering crucial healthcare and help make emergency departments safer – for everyone".
ACEM encouraged Dr Reti to continue focussing on addressing the "systemic issues that contribute to long waits for care, staff burnout and aggression and violence in the emergency department".
One of the hospitals in the programme that had a high rate of success with the additional security staff was Middlemore Hospital, where violent incidents nearly halved with extra security guards on the job around the clock.
Middlemore was one of eight "higher-risk" emergency departments that received five extra security staff — and a further 24 emergency departments received between two and five additional guards.
The hospital recorded 13 reports of abuse in December, a big drop from the 22 in December 2022, said acting chief medical officer Dr Andrew Connolly.
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