WATCH: Shocking video shows doctors, nurses attacked in emergency departments
The doctors and nurses who save lives in our hospitals are now being put at risk themselves by increasing levels of violence, especially in emergency departments.
Seven News has exclusive pictures of staff being assaulted as hospital aggression continues to rise across the country.
Now police are doing random patrols of emergency departments to try to keep them safe.
One doctor doesn't even make it inside Caboolture Hospital before he becomes the first casualty of his shift.
He was head-butted during a traffic dispute by a motorcyclist who was still wearing his helmet.
These pictures are from the body cameras of security officers who detained the man for assault.
At Redcliffe Hospital, a visitor is evicted after abusing staff.
A few metres from the entrance, he explodes and starts shouting aggressively as security officers, who have to restrain him.
"There's been some very unfortunate incidents around the country in recent times," Dr David Rosengren of Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital says.
"Health professionals have been assaulted outside the hospital grounds with some terribly tragic outcomes."
It's not just health workers who are being affected.
In one video, a security officer can be seen being pushed off his bike.
In another, a cab driver who arrives to collect a patient is coward-punched.
"It can be quite a high-pressure place at times," security officer Corey Meehan says.
Metro North Health is fighting back, hiring an extra 15 security officer and putting a dedicated guard in the emergency departments of Caboolture, Redcliffe, Prince Charles and Royal Brisbane and Women's hospitals.
All security officers are now equipped with body worn cameras, including for the first time at hospitals on Queensland's Gold Coast.
"As soon as they're activated you do see a bit of a behaviour shift in some people," Corey Meehan says.
"We are committed to protecting the men and women who help us from being punching bags," Dr Rosengren says.
