$2.2 million will be made available in the 2018-19 State Budget towards protective equipment for frontline health and security staff at the State’s major hospitals, and other at-risk public health workers across the State.
More than 11,000 incidents of violence and aggression were reported in the Western Australian health system during 2016-17.
Over the next three years, WA Health will purchase 250 anti-stab vests for the State’s major hospitals, and 2,500 personal mobile duress alarms to reduce the risk of injury at home visits and to help protect staff in remote nursing posts. The security needs of high-risk sites will be addressed in 2018-19, with protective equipment to be rolled out at other at-risk sites in subsequent years.
WA Health will continuously work with individual Health Service Providers to develop, monitor and evaluate security implementation plans for at-risk sites.