24 March 2023
Members at Glenside Campus have had a Work Health and Safety win following assurances an inpatient with a long-documented history of violence will not return to the Rural and Remote (R and R) Inpatient Ward.
On Friday, March 3, several members were assaulted by this inpatient, sustaining injuries. The patient had also engaged in episodes such as spitting, throwing heavy objects, intimidatory verbal threats and serious assaults.
As a result, a members meeting was held on Monday, March 6, to provide support to members. Concerns were raised in relation to the increasing frequency of violence in the ward and the suitability of the R and R in the case of this patient, who is no longer at Glenside.
The ANMF (SA Branch) wrote to the CEO of the Barossa Hills Fleurieu Local Health Network (BHFLHN), who have governance of this unit, expressing members’ concerns.
We also again raised issues with the lack of mandatory training provided to staff, specifically the Managing Acute and Potential Aggression (MAPA) Training, which nursing staff had not accessed for more than three years.
Consequently, the BHFLHN has made assurances that the patient will not return to the Rural and Remote Ward. MAPA Training has recommenced and Working with Wisdom facilitators have been employed to work with less experienced staff.
“Congratulations to the members for raising these serious safety concerns which have now resulted in a positive outcome for both staff and patients,’’ ANMF (SA Branch) CEO/Secretary Adj Associate Professor Elizabeth Dabars AM said.
We continue to strongly encourage members to:
• Report any incidents of assault to SAPOL.
• Escalate all staffing and worker health safety matters internally through the SLS system.
• Provide notification through the Violence and Aggression Reporting Tool via the ANMFSA website.
• Provide notification to SafeWork SA on 1300 365 255, in relation to the ongoing issues.