Violence policy calms strike nurses

Dandenong Hospital's windows are boarded up after a man terrorised nurses and patients by throwing concrete. Picture: supplied. N45os222a1 Source: Leader

NURSES are expected to call off strike action today after Dandenong Hospital vowed to bring in a Code Grey policy for violent patients.

The Hospital announced yesterday it would bring in a Code Grey strategy for violent patients after nurses threatened to strike following weeks of escalating emergency room violence

The Australian Nursing Federation will today recommend the nurses quit their strike action.

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The most recent attack was on Sunday when a man threw pieces of concrete at the waiting room, smashing four windows and terrifying staff and patients.

In one case, a nurse had part of her breast bitten off by a patient in a sickening attack.

Southern Health media manager Suzana Talevski said the hospital would implement a code grey protocol mid-year to deal with aggressive and violent patients and visitors, and immediately increase the number of security guards in the department.

ANF Victorian branch assistant secretary Paul Gilbert said it was a very positive response to nurses’ concerns.

Dandenong nurses will meet this afternoon to discuss the new safety measures.

Nurses, hospital staff and sympathetic readers have told Leader that hospitals are a very dangerous place to work.

Brendan Lock of Rosebud commented: "As I am a former nurse, the reality is, when nursing you are at risk of being physically or sexually assaulted (in) every shift you do."

Deeba said it was a nurse's right to feel safe at work. "The patients who are violent obviously they have problem and should have separate place to be looked after."

Monash Health media manager Suzana Talevski said the hospital was "committed to a compressive approach".

"Like many other health services across the state we are often dealing with very ill patients who require special care and understanding and at times some patients present with behaviour that is very challenging and stressful."

Australian Nursing Federation Victorian branch assistant secretary Paul Gilbert said nurses were being regularly bashed, bitten, threatened with weapons and attacked on the job.

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Union bosses given notice on policy

UNIONS will be called on to explain why an industrial relations policy which urges Queensland Health managers to encourage union membership in the workplace should not be abolished.

Health Minister Lawrence Springborg has announced he is reviewing the Union Encouragement human resources policy, which is linked to multiple QH enterprise bargaining agreements.

Unions will get two weeks to provide a submission on why the policy should remain.

The Newman Government will have to introduce legislative changes to scrap the provision.

According to the policy, QH managers and supervisors must encourage union membership.

"Queensland Health has made a commitment to encourage union membership among its employees," the policy states.

"Passive acceptance by management and supervisors of membership recruitment activity by unions does not satisfy the requirements of the agreement.

"Encouragement requires managers and supervisors to take a positive, supportive role."

Mr Springbord said he was "giving notice" that the rules are under review.

"We now need to review whether these policies are about delivering for patients and unions, or if they are about delivering for union bosses and Labor," Mr Springborg said.

"These designer rules were created to favour the political goals of the Labor party and have no place in a democracy or independent public service.

"Union bosses have two weeks to make submissions."

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