Thousands of dollars will be spent on a security boost to protect staff and patients from violence in two North East hospitals.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Access to Northeast Health Wangaratta’s special care nursery and paediatric ward will be restricted by staff electronic key cards when new security doors are installed.
Hospital executive officer Margaret Bennett said she was pleased the funding application for about $11,000 from the Victorian government was successful.
“That was our first priority,” she said.
The wards were accessible to anyone through normal doors.
“Special care nursery and paediatric areas are areas where all hospitals look to maximise their security,” Ms Bennett said.
“It's an important part of how we operate.”
Ms Bennett said the doors should be installed in the next six weeks.
Yarrawonga Health will also receive about $31,000 in funding to upgrade its CCTV coverage and duress alarms from analogue to digital.
Executive officer Elaine Mellows said the improved technology was welcomed and should be in place within three months.
“We should be able to access more camera points,” she said.
“It’s so important to use those systems for preventing violence towards healthcare workers.”
The state government cash was part of $1.5 million from the health service violence prevention fund for 26 Victorian hospitals.
Health Minister Jill Hennessy said the funding would help reduce violence at hospitals.
“Violence in any workplace is totally unacceptable,” she said.
“It is especially concerning that our dedicated doctors and nurses who care for others, often at their most vulnerable, face a greater risk of violence.
“Our highly skilled frontline healthcare workers deserve to feel safe at work so they can do their job treating patients and saving lives.
“With the busy New Year’s Eve period fast approaching, please remember to give our hardworking doctors and nurses the respect they always deserve.”
