Blacktown Nurses Strike to Protest Nurse's Stabbing
Friday, July 15, 2011
Nurses at Blacktown Hospital in western Sydney will be walking off the job on Friday to protest the NSW Government's response to the stabbing of their colleague earlier this week. The NSW Nurses' Association (NSWNA) says that the nurses want a 24-hour security guard in the hospital's ED and they are not going to compromise on their safety.
Even though Health Minister Jillian Skinner announced that a security guard will now be stationed at the hospital's ED during the night shift, between 10 pm and 6 am, hospital staff are demanding a 24-hour guard, training in aggression management, and the removal of all dangerous items, including cutlery and crockery, from the department.
According to NSWNA general secretary Brett Holmes, the nurses are not prepared to compromise on these demands and will strike as planned on Friday. "Nurses feel like this was completely unacceptable for it to even happen in the first place."
Ms. Skinner says a review into the hospital's safety measures will take place. Opposition health spokesman Andrew McDonald has called on the government to supply all hospitals in NSW with 24-hour security and a review of their safety measures.
The nurse, who was punched in the face and stabbed several times with a butter knife early Tuesday morning, is recovering from the physical assault, and trauma counselling will be available to her.
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