Far South Coast nurses say going to work is becoming more dangerous by the day due to patient violence.
The Nurses and Midwives Association has reported their members are being subjected to a more and more abuse and assaults at our local hospitals.
Eurobodalla Branch Assistant Secretary Donna Thompson says they need more support.
“We have our health and security agents and some wardsmen that help us but violence and aggression is actually on the rise over all of our departments,” Ms Thompson said.
“Our nurses are facing being yelled at, grabbed, hit, spat at,” she said.
It was raised as a key issue with the head of the Nurses and Midwives Association O’Bray Smith during a visit to the Eurobodalla.
The union believe their are a number of reasons for the increase in violence against its members.
“An increase in mental health and drug and alcohol with reduced services for our area,” she said.
“An increase in delirium and dementia patients in the wards, they’re having longer stays because there’s no nursing home placements available for them.
“Then that leads to staff taking being on workers comp for either injuries or for mental health stress, which again is reducing our staffing levels.”
