Finders Shire calls on the state government to keep health staff safe

Hughenden Hospital and Health Service, Hughenden Doctors Surgery and local council are working together to discuss difficult patients, lobber for safer facilities and to raise staff safety concerns.

Flinders Shire Mayor Jane McNamara said there were little safety protocols and adequate infrastructure at health centres to keep staff safe.

"In small towns like ours, we only have one doctor, the doctor surgery and the hospital. The private surgery has no security, so if there is an incident they must have their own protocols in place which is a cause for concern," Cr McNamara said.

"At the Hughenden HHS there is only two staff working at night. So if they have an incident or presentation to the hospital, which could be alcohol or drug related, it leaves those staff in a vulnerable position."

Cr McNamara said they were calling on the state government to assist rural and remote communities with additional safety measures and infrastructure.

"We have decided to write to the Queensland Premier and Minister for Health so we can ask for additional security right across the board, not just for Hughenden but all rural and remote centres," she said.

"There are some hospitals that have a lock down area or additional security that can assist if patients become agitated. This is a historical issue and there are many rural and remote communities facing the same problem."

Cr McNamara said Hughenden HHS was undergoing an upgrade that would slightly benefit staff, but Council wanted to see more done.

"The upgrade will including a swipe card system, that will restrict patient access at the hospital. Therefore if something goes wrong the patient can be isolated in the lobby area until police or SES support can be provided," she said.

"While this will improve the safety of staff at the hospital, more needs to be done to protect our front line workers. We need to put the safety of our professionals first because we need these people in our community."

Hughenden HHS falls under the Townsville Hospital and Health Service jurisdiction, with chief executive Kieran Keyes stating that violence and abuse towards health workers weren't acceptable, tolerated nor taken lightly.

"Most patients and visitors to our rural hospitals are thankful for the care we provide and are grateful to our excellent staff. However, when people do become violent or aggressive it interferes with our ability to provide medical or nursing care as well as the obvious impacts on our staff," Mr Keyes said.

"The number of occupational violence incidents at Hughenden Hospital is low. There was one case of physical aggression and one case of verbal aggression for all 2020. In 2021, there has been three cases of verbal aggression and no cases of physical aggression."

Mr Keyes confirmed an upgrade was underway to improve the electrical network at Hughenden Hospital.

"This upgrade will allow for secure swipe access for staff creating a barrier from public areas. De-escalation of potentially violent incidences is also key and trainers from Townsville University Hospital will visit Hughenden next month to run a MAPA course.

"MAPA is Townsville Hospital and Health Service training that assists staff in how to identify potentially violent situations and how best to respond."

READ ALSO: Council to inject $5.1 million funding to refurbish Mount Isa Fun Park.

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