EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS

231 Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (15 March 2011) (First Session).

How many code black calls were made in each major South Australian Metropolitan Hospital Emergency Department in each month since January 2009?

The Hon. J.D. HILL (Kaurna—Minister for Health and Ageing, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Arts): I am advised:

1. The following table provides a summary of Code Black incidents for all metropolitan hospital emergency departments in each month for the specified period.

Any aggressive behaviour towards staff or patients in hospital is taken extremely seriously.

Code Black is the term used in hospitals when staff call for assistance in dealing with a patient or visitor who is acting in a way that may compromise their safety or the safety of others, including disruptive and intimidating behaviour.

A Code Black does not always indicate a violent incident has occurred. They are also used as a preventative measure to stop people who may be showing signs of aggression.

Most aggressive incidents involve patients whose illness, injury or treatment may cause behavioural changes. Very few incidents are the result of deliberate aggression towards staff.

Appendix 1—Monthly breakdown of Code Blacks in South Australian Metropolitan Hospitals January 2009—February 2011

Table 1—Code Blacks for South Australian Metropolitan Emergency Departments in 2009

Table 2—Code Blacks for South Australian Metropolitan Emergency Departments in 2010

Table 3—Code Blacks for South Australian Metropolitan Emergency Departments in January and February 2011