SOUTH East residents who were at the Mount Gambier Hospital earlier this month when a man allegedly threatened a staff member during a dramatic incident in the emergency department said they feared for their lives.
Two people who visited the hospital on Sunday, March 4, told The Border Watch the department was placed into lock down.
Police were called, however the situation went on for some time before it was defused as there was no security presence at the hospital at the time.
At around 1pm, police arrived and arrested Daniel Peter Schenk, 49, after it is alleged he threatened a staff member and behaved in a disorderly manner.
The victim received minor injuries as a result of the incident.
Schenk has been charged with aggravated assault and remains in custody.
He will stay behind bars until he appears in the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court on April 3 to face the charges.
Despite the concerning incident, Country Health SA South East acting regional director Ngaire Buchanan said the Mount Gambier Hospital is a safe and secure facility.
“Any breaches in security are dealt with quickly and appropriately and any patients or visitors to the hospital who behave in an unacceptable manner will not be tolerated,” Ms Buchanan said.
“All hospital staff are trained in techniques to manage such situations.”
While Ms Buchanan would not comment on the specific incident as it was now before the courts, she did indicate the Mount Gambier Hospital has provided police with security footage of the incident.
She said the hospital was armed with the appropriate resources to help deal with an incident that has the potential to escalate and become violent.
“Mount Gambier Hospital has video surveillance, secure swipe card access to non-public external doors and areas such as the emergency department treatment area and ambulance entry,” she said.
“Duress alarms and other hospital systems are available to call additional staff to an area to help with de-escalation and management of a situation.”
Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation SA chief executive officer Professor Elizabeth Dabars said the federation was seeking information on the circumstances regarding the incident and any action undertaken.
However, she said in general it was vital hospital management and governments ensured working environments were safe.
“Violence and aggression against health professionals in the workplace is completely unacceptable and Country Health SA has an obligation to provide a safe work environment,” Ms Dabars said.
“We continue to raise concerns with the health minister and metropolitan and country local health networks regarding ensuring a genuinely zero tolerance approach to violent and aggressive behaviour against nurses, midwives and care workers, wherever they work.”
Liberal candidate for Mount Gambier Craig Marsh called for security to be reviewed at the Mount Gambier Hospital following the recent incident.
“With increasing violence and widespread misuse of ‘ice’ and other drugs, the emergency department at the hospital needs an ongoing security presence on site,” Mr Marsh said.
“Patients and staff should be able to seek care and give care without fearing for their personal safety.”
Shadow Minister for Health, Stephen Wade said the first step was for people to understand violence against health workers was completely unacceptable.
When Ms Buchanan was asked if their needed to be an increased security presence at the hospital, she said private officers were already used at certain times.
“We use private security officers to provide services in the emergency department waiting room on occasion, including on some long weekends and our staff call South Australia Police when they are needed to intervene in situations,” Ms Buchanan said.
