‘Pushed, kicked, spat on’: ED staff demand 24/7 security as violence hits record levels

AI Summary

Emergency department staff in Victoria, Australia, are calling for 24/7 specialist security due to a rise in violent assaults and verbal abuse targeting healthcare workers. The increased violence is driving staff away from the profession.

Victorian doctors and nurses are pushing for around-the-clock specialist security guards to be stationed at every emergency department amid an escalation in violent assaults and rising ‘horrific’ racial and sexualised verbal abuse driving staff out of the profession.