Safety taskforce established to tackle aggression in the NSW health system

The Minns Labor Government has established a taskforce to advise on ways to enhance the safety for staff, patients, and visitors across the NSW public health system.

The NSW Health Safety Taskforce, which met for the first time earlier this week, is made up of representatives from unions, and NSW Health, including Sydney, Western Sydney and Western NSW Local Health Districts. The work of the Taskforce will focus on measures and provide suggestions to the Minister for Health and Minister for Regional Health to:

• improve hospital security systems and workforce capability
• reduce the incidence and impact of occupational violence
• strengthen prevention, response and recovery frameworks for workplace incidents
• ensure consistent and effective approaches across NSW Health facilities
• support workplace safety, wellbeing and retention.

The Taskforce will meet monthly and report progress to the Minister for Health and Minister for Regional Health and the Secretary NSW Health.

NSW Health is also ensuring security staff have the authority to direct and escort individuals from hospital premises when their behaviour creates a risk.

Security staff in NSW Health play a vital role supporting clinical staff in NSW Health. Updated information is being provided to all staff to ensure they understand this role.

Specialised training is being explored to support their work.

These measures add to a number of key strategies already in place across the public hospital system, which include:

• A trial of body worn cameras for security staff at 15 hospitals across the state, which has been extended until November 2026.
• Ongoing risk assessments to identify and manage emerging security risks.
• Safety huddles to share information on patient related safety risk.
• Patient management plans that set out specific arrangements to keep both the patient and healthcare workers safe when providing care.
• Multi-disciplinary Code Black (duress) response teams. This includes the use of NSW Health security staff/Health and Security Assistants to assist clinical staff with the management of incidents.
• Workplaces designed to enhance line of sight for staff, including dual egress at staff stations and in treatments rooms.
• Lockdown arrangements including secure entry points between public and clinical areas and secure perimeters for facilities, particularly after hours.
• Personal mobile and fixed duress alarms for staff to ensure they can summon assistance when necessary.
• Closed circuit television (CCTV) and effective lighting to ensure visibility.
• Procedures to enhance car park security, including regular security patrols.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Ryan Park:

"The safety of our healthcare staff and patients is a priority and the Minns Government has a zero-tolerance approach to violence and aggression in our public hospitals.

"If you are acting aggressively towards others, you do not have a right to remain on hospital premises.

"The Safety Taskforce will provide valuable insights into how we can build on work already being undertaken by health staff, to reduce instances of violence and aggression in our health system."

Quotes attributable to Health Services Union Secretary Gerard Hayes:

"We must eradicate violence and aggression directed at health workers.

"It's unacceptable that we've seen an increase in violent incidents in hospitals, but these new measures will make a real difference in creating safer work environments.

"The Safety Taskforce is key to attracting and retaining the health workforce the state needs."

Quotes attributable to General Secretary, NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association Michael Whaites:

"We know that physical violence and verbal aggression towards our nurses and midwives is on the rise. Our recently released report, 'Occupational Violence: has no place in my workplace' outlined that 88% of nurses and midwives surveyed had experienced violence in the last year, with public sector staff most commonly at risk.

"This is unacceptable. Nurses and midwives should feel safe at work. We welcome the establishment of the Safety Taskforce and will work to ensure that it delivers meaningful change as quickly as possible."

Quotes attributable to ASMOF NSW President Dr Nicholas Spooner:

"ASMOF NSW welcomes the establishment of the NSW Health Safety Taskforce as an important step towards improving safety across the NSW public health system.

"Every doctor has the right to come to work without fear of violence, threats, aggression or intimidation. Violence against healthcare workers is unacceptable and should never be accepted as part of working in our public hospitals.

"Our members have repeatedly raised concerns about increasing incidents of occupational violence. We look forward to working with NSW Health, the Government and other unions to ensure the Taskforce delivers meaningful improvements to safety across the public health system."