Mental health workers protest against assaults

Over the past 12 months some 213 assaults have occurred at the Te Whetu Tawera mental health facility in Auckland. File photo / Doug Sherring

About 60 health workers took to Auckland streets today to protest against assaults on staff by patients at Auckland District Health Board's acute mental health unit.

Public Service Association (PSA) members gathered at the main gates of Auckland City Hospital, and marched to the DHB's Te Whetu Tawera mental health facility, where they presented management with a vote of no confidence.

"We told them we were sick of the assaults on the site and they needed to listen to what we were talking about in regards to solving the issues," PSA organiser and spokesman Brendon Lane told NZPA.

Over the past 12 months some 213 assaults have occurred at the unit.

"This number of assaults is unacceptable. Our members should not have to put up this level of violence on a daily basis," Mr Lane said.

The assaults included being punched, choked, and hit with objects, as well as being kicked, grabbed and spat at.

"Our members should not be going to work fearing for their own safety," Mr Lane said.

"Te Whetu Tawera has said that any incident of assault is one too many but such words are falling on the deaf ears of our members who work at the facility.

"They want to see management take stronger action to prevent violent attacks in their workplace.

"The PSA is calling on the DHB to listen to our members and work with the union to put in place health and safety measures that protect staff and reduce the level of assaults occurring at Te Whetu Tawera."

Management needed to review staffing levels, use seclusion, and improve its rostering system, Mr Lane said.

The protest was supported by the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO), whose chief executive Geoff Annals said any level of violence was unacceptable.

"Even though our laws in Aotearoa New Zealand are clear that violence is a crime, health workers are expected to put up with it day after day," he said.

"It's not ok. Employers and management of hospitals and mental health facilities need to take steps to make these places of work safe for staff."

In a statement last week, the DHB acknowledged the concerns expressed by staff at the facility and said it was working to minimise the risks.

"We recognise our mental health staff often work in challenging environments with patients who are acutely unwell and distressed," said DHB mental health services nurse director Anna Schofield.

"We take all assault events seriously and we have a culture where we encourage staff to report such incidents."

Clinical services general manager Fionnagh Dougan said the DHB was already working with the PSA and was keen to continue collaborating with it to improve staff safety.

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