BODY-CAMS are the latest weapon in the battle against the rising number of assaults in public hospitals, including at John Hunter Hospital. Login or signup to continue reading Almost 10 Hunter New England-based doctors, nurses and other staff were physically assaulted every week during 2023, a total of 514. The year before that, the number was more than 630, a total of almost 2000 in the four years to mid-November, 2023.
Across the state, more than 972 assaults were recorded at public hospitals in the year to March 2024, a rate of more than 18 a week, according to the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research. The figure represents a jump of more than 25 per cent on the number of assaults recorded during the previous equivalent period. NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said that trend was not acceptable.
"The trend in assaults in our hospitals is unacceptable and we are taking action," Mr Ryan said. "The safety of our healthcare staff and patients is a priority and the NSW government has a zero-tolerance approach to violence and aggression in our public hospitals." Security staff at nine NSW hospitals will trial the body-worn devices to see if they can prompt people to calm down once they realise they are being recorded, and to potentially collect evidence for prosecutions.
The Health Services Union (HSU) welcomed the announcement yesterday, with HSU secretary Gerard Hayes saying it was a "good first step recognising the risks security face each day in our health system". The c.