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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2023-06-28 Daily Xml
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Port Pirie Health Service

Ms PRATT (Frome) (14:56): My question is to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing. Will the minister direct the CEO of the Yorke and Northern Local Health Network to provide restraint-trained security guards for the Port Pirie hospital and, if not, why not? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Ms PRATT: Today, it was reported that two nurses at the Port Pirie hospital had been attacked by a patient, with one nurse punched in the stomach and one in the torso. It is the second violent incident in a week after three doctors and two nurses were also assaulted by a patient.

The Hon. C.J. PICTON (Kaurna—Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:56): I thank the member for Frome for her question. I was concerned to hear the reports from the ANMF this morning in relation to an incident at the Port Pirie hospital, and I have asked for information from the Yorke and Northern Local Health Network.

The early indication I have had, awaiting a full briefing, is that there was an incident involving a woman in her late 70s who was a resident of the adjacent aged-care facility and who has dementia. There was a Code Black called in relation to her care. Obviously, I think all members of the house would understand that in relation to people who have dementia in aged care they can sometimes be difficult cases in terms of the management of those cases.

Ms Pratt: But security would help.

The Hon. C.J. PICTON: That is an appropriate question that needs to be asked in relation to a case of a woman in her late 70s with dementia, in terms of whether that is the appropriate action that should have been taken in that regard. However, I will get the full briefing in relation to the matter.

Clearly there is a broader concern in relation to the ANMF that they have raised in relation to security guards not just at that hospital but other hospitals across the state.

Ms Pratt: Wallaroo, Berri—

The Hon. C.J. PICTON: Yes, and there were a number of hospitals where they have been raising this issue for some time—

Ms Pratt: So have we.

The Hon. C.J. PICTON: Not that long, in fact, member for Frome, because this issue was raised for many years in relation to the Port Lincoln hospital under the previous government, and there was a refusal to put in place any security guards at the Port Lincoln hospital. We have now put in place a review of security arrangements there, and we have put in place a security guard at the Port Lincoln hospital. We have increased security guards in place at the Mount Gambier hospital, but no doubt there is more work to do.

The Yorke and Northern Local Health Network board is actively considering this. I spoke to the chair of the board, appointed by the previous government, only last week—

Ms Pratt interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The minister has the call.

The Hon. C.J. PICTON: —in relation to this matter, and that is under active consideration by the board in both Port Pirie and Wallaroo, as they consider the security arrangements in place for staff and patients at both those hospitals.

Ms Pratt interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Frome is called to order. I am going to turn to the member for Elizabeth because this is only the third government question for the day.

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