No excuse for abuse against Townsville paramedics

Being spat on, sworn at, verbally abused or physically assaulted is not part of an ambulance employee’s job description and should never take place – that’s the message being sent to the Townsville community in a new campaign targeting occupational violence.

The Palaszczuk Government has a zero tolerance approach to violence against Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) staff and is calling on the people of Townsville to respect their local men and women in teal because there’s no excuse for abuse.

Launching a new anti-occupational violence campaign today, Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Steven Miles asked the community to reinforce how socially unacceptable it is to abuse hardworking paramedics and Triple Zero (000) call takers trying to provide help to the sick and injured.

“I want to make it clear that there is no place for threats, abuse or assaults for local ambos going about their work,” Mr Miles said.

“Ambulance staff interact with the community when they are at their most vulnerable and should never be the punching bag for a patient or bystander who feels the need to lash out.”

“These are mums and dads, they’re our parents, our siblings and our friends within the community – one assault against them is one too many.”

Member for Thuringowa Aaron Harper said attacks against Townsville paramedics remained static which is why QAS was running a localised campaign.

“As a former Paramedic, I know how serious and damaging acts of violence and aggression against our paramedics and emergency medical dispatchers can be,” Mr Harper said.

“I’m know anyone who hears the firsthand accounts of Townsville staff who’ve been the victims of violence will join with us in condemning the behaviour.

“No person deserves to feel afraid at work.”

QAS Assistant Commissioner Townsville Local Ambulance Service Network (LASN) Robbie Medlin said the organisation was doing all it could to protect staff from incidents of occupational violence.

“I have recently formed a local Paramedic Safety Management Committee comprised of frontline staff to further ensure that all possible strategies to protect our staff here in Townsville are being considered,” Mr Medlin said.

“The committee will access a wide range of insight from senior staff through to first year graduates, along with union representatives, to ensure all views are heard and represented.”

“This will provide a platform to review and analyse events and formulate approaches to further minimise risks to our staff.”

Townsville LASN reported 54 cases of occupational violence in the 2017-18 financial year, up from 50 the previous year. Thirty-eight cases have been reported so far in the 2018-19 financial year.

Mr Medlin said while serious acts of physical assault were rare, actions such as verbal abuse or intimidating behaviour also adversely affected staff.

“Some acts of violence require long term physical and mental recovery and can have a devastating impact on our staff and their families,” he said.

“A hostile environment impedes us from completing our job efficiently and safely, so I’m urging the community to please respect our staff - there is no excuse for abuse.”

It follows the implementation of 15 recommendations from the statewide Paramedic Safety Taskforce Report conducted in 2016.

Among the strategies implemented were revised safety and de-escalation training, the introduction of anti-psychotic drug Droperidol for agitated patients, new technology allowing direct communication with police and greater staff support services.

Stills and some video from the campaign are available here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/1k2su2v7op9jpze/AABRm7mvT7mqM4TuV3R719S5a?dl=0

ENDS

Media contact:               Katharine Wright – 0428 957 903