More assaults on hospital staff

FILE

Almost double the number in 2013, and most in the mental health unit

Rotorua Hospital staff suffered almost 70 assaults at work last year - almost twice the number from the year before - with the crowded mental health inpatient unit the scene of most.

Figures released to the Rotorua Daily Post under the Official Information Act showed in 2014 there were 67 assaults on Lakes District Health Board staff, all but two in Rotorua. In 2013 there were 35 assaults and so far this year there have been 17.

Health board assistant communications officer Shan Tapsell said staff were encouraged to report all incidents, no matter how small, and some of the increase could be attributed to that.

"As an acute healthcare facility, patients can be very unwell when they present for care and treatment and while Lakes DHB takes utmost care to reduce the risk of incidents, they do occur."

Ms Tapsell said the health board was concerned about any assaults on staff - and each reported incident was carefully reviewed and, where possible, steps were put in place to mitigate or remove future risk.

She put the high number of assaults in the mental health inpatient unit partly down to the ward often being at or over capacity, adding the unit had experienced major growth in the number of people accessing the service and the reasons for being admitted varied.

"The local unit is expected to accommodate a broad range of complex and sometimes competing needs."

Evidence suggested the rate of assaults increased in crowded environments. "There is a sense that intoxication [from alcohol and other substances] is a major contributor to incidents of assault."

Ms Tapsell said the board believed incidents had been under-reported in the past.

"Lakes DHB is taking steps to minimise some of the issues in the mental health inpatient unit by making some internal refurbishments to the unit. The changes will provide an improved environment for both patients and staff with the ability to care for patients in different areas."

She said while the work environment in the mental health unit could be "very challenging" the board was confident the unit was a safe place to work.

"There is a strong leadership structure with the unit that means any issues are quickly recognised and resolved."

Most of the reported assaults were minor with no injuries, although there were times when bruising or skin tears were involved. "There are rare occasions where an assault is serious enough to involve the police and the health board has a policy of doing so when warranted."

The board did not underestimate the effect on staff of any form of assault, bullying or intimidation and took every incident very seriously.