Violence against hospital staff surges as CCTV exposes raging patients
Hospital staff are now armed with more security staff, duress alarms and body-worn cameras for protection against violent patients.
Dementia, delirium, drugs and alcohol have seen a surge in violence and verbal taunts against the 3,000 hospital staff who are assaulted each year in Queensland.
Staff are now wearing body cameras that police officers use to prosecute criminals and doctors say this technology has made saving lives safer.
One patient who abused nurses and doctors, began lashing out and punching security officers at Redcliffe Hospital, prompting a call for Code Black.
Meanwhile, at the Royal Brisbane Hospital a man was caught on CCTV charging through five security members before he is detained and tackled to the floor.
Dr David Rosengren told 7 News that it is not uncommon for a patient to be accompanied by security.
He said a senior colleague was punched in the back of the head and knocked to the ground in a savage attack that was completely unprovoked.
“It’s the patients that threaten staff members that they are going to follow them to their car,” Dr Rosengren said.
“Very occasionally we get somebody who writes us a letter where they identify that their behaviour was completely unacceptable."
