Nurses in need of shelters
14.03.2008
AN internal Queensland Health report on nurses' security in remote locations in the Torres Strait has recommended that secure ``bomb shelters'' be provided for staff where they could hide when under attack.
The report, which was provided to Queensland Health 16months ago but tabled in parliament by Health Minister Stephen Robertson only on Wednesday, described the risk level posed to most employees working in the Torres Strait as ``very high'' or ``extreme''.
As revealed this week by The Australian, the report has not been acted on since it was compiled in October 2006.
Mr Robertson tabled the report after The Australian revealed the case of a nurse who worked alone on Mabuiag Island in the Torres Strait. Last month, the 27-year-old woman was attacked while she slept and raped by an intruder.
The full report details how ``strongrooms'' needed to be established in each isolated facility. ``A strongroom is a selected area within a building that has two exits, but all walls and doors are built to a standard that can keep a staff member safe until help (exit strategy) arrives,'' the report states. ``This room should be self-contained and hold emergency bottled water and pre-packed food.
``It should have several lines of communication ... be able to withstand physical aggression and be fire resistant.''
The report says that if these initiatives were put in place, staff could also keep patients safe if under threat of violence.
On Wednesday, Mr Robertson said that a bureaucrat in Queensland Health had not passed on the report, but yesterday he asked the Crime and Misconduct Commission to investigate after a former district manager in the Torres Strait said he never received the risk assessment report.
Mr Robertson had earlier accused the officer, who has since retired, of being responsible for the inaction on the report which saw it ``lie on a desk for 16months''.
The Queensland branch of the Australian Medical Association weighed into the controversy yesterday, saying there were clearly unacceptable inadequacies in the safety of health staff working in the Torres Strait.
AMA president Dr Chris Davis said his organisation was concerned that Queensland Health appeared to have been made aware of the issues but had decided not to take action.
``Queensland Health has a duty of care to provide a safe workplace for its employees,'' Dr Davis said. ``The Queensland Government is very quick to ensure that employers discharge their obligations under the Act but as an employer themselves have not done this.''
Nurses in remote communities have issued an ultimatum to the Government, demanding their facilities be brought up to safe and secure standards by March 28 or they will refuse to staff the island community health centres.
The Queensland Nurses Union has also said there will be no more single-nurse assignments in island communities, and that at least two must be appointed at all times.
If that is not done, they will provide only fly-in/fly-out day clinics.
