21 July 2020
A woman has been arrested after allegedly spitting on a pregnant nurse at Mount Gambier Hospital, prompting calls from the ANMF (SA Branch) for urgent new security measures.
According to media reports, the arrested woman was a convicted murderer with an extensive criminal history, including previous sentences for three counts of assault and two counts of aggravated assault.
Police were called to the hospital at about 9.30am on Sunday where it is alleged a woman in the emergency department verbally abused a uniformed nurse and spat in her face. The nurse, who is 26 weeks pregnant, has been offered counselling and support.
A 52-year-old woman was arrested and charged with assaulting a prescribed emergency worker. She was refused bail, appeared in the Mt Gambier Magistrates Court yesterday and remanded in custody until a court hearing next week.
According to Channel 7, the detained woman and a man were convicted for the bashing murder of a truck driver in Mt Gambier in 1991, with the woman receiving a non-parole period of 20 years behind bars. The judge at the time described the killing as brutal and unprovoked.
ANMF (SA Branch) CEO/Secretary Adj. Associate Professor Elizabeth Dabars AM said employers had a responsibility to protect their staff from the likelihood of assault.
“Spitting on another person is an abhorrent act, particularly in this current COVID environment when the risk of transmitting a potentially lethal disease is heightened,’’ she said.
Ms Dabars urged SA Health to implement a plan that would provide increased security, training for staff and the redesign of facilities to prevent future attacks.
“While we welcome SA Health’s commitment to the early implementation of anti-violence policies as part of our recent Enterprise Bargaining Agreement, the reality is health care workers are facing the risk of physical harm every time they go to work,’’ she said.
“Our members urgently need action now and not more timelines for implementation plans to be enacted.
“Appropriate measures need to be put in place to be able to deal with and prevent the threat of violence.’’
The alleged assault follows an incident in May when a nurse dressed in blue hospital scrubs had a drink spat at her as she walked along Hindley Street.
A 42-year-old woman was later arrested and charged with assaulting a prescribed emergency worker.
Under laws introduced last year, anyone found guilty of assaulting an emergency services worker in SA faces up to 15 years’ jail.