Doctors Need Greater Protection Too

AMA (NSW) President, Dr Michael Bonning, said today that abuse and violence against doctors and their staff is occurring at alarming levels and greater practical and legal protections are needed.

Dr Bonning said that under the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Assaults on Frontline Emergency and Health Workers) Bill 2022, which came into effect last October, aggressive patients can be jailed from 12 months up to 14 years for assaulting frontline health workers or emergency workers.

“This Bill was very welcome. It covers many in the health workforce,” Dr Bonning said.

“But it does not give protection or coverage to doctors and their staff.

“Doctors – GPs and other specialist doctors working in the community – regularly face confronting and dangerous situations. Our practice staff are often more exposed to aggressive patients.

“I have been attacked in the workplace and so have many doctors I know and doctors who have reported incidents to AMA (NSW).

“We need protection too.

“AMA (NSW) will ask the Minns Government to revisit the Bill to extend its scope to cover doctors and their staff.”

Dr Bonning said that the Federal Government’s new Strengthening Medicare policies, coming into effect from 2023-24, include incentives for more after hours primary health care, including in general practice, to improve patient access to the care they need, when they need it – and to keep people out of emergency departments.

“These changes means that GP clinics will be open longer hours, including into the evening and night,” Dr Bonning said.

“This is when neighbourhoods and business precincts are quieter, there are fewer people around, and the chances of violent or criminal behaviour are higher.

“The chances of patients or passers-by being affected by drugs or alcohol are also much higher.

“Doctors, their staff, and their patients will be more vulnerable to criminal acts and violence.

“Everybody involved in providing vital primary health care services around the clock and on weekends will need greater protection, which includes greater penalties and deterrents for offenders.

“We will work with both the State and Federal Governments to ensure improved patients access to the health care they need, where they need it, and when they need it.

“This will involve ensuring that all health workplaces are safe for the doctors and other health professionals, their staff, and the patients,” Dr Bonning said.

In research conducted for AMA (NSW) last year, involving 378 medical practices:

• 88 per cent experienced verbal aggression from a patient.
• 37 per cent experienced physical aggression.
• 96 per cent supported expansion of the legislation to include healthcare providers and staff working in private practice.

Further background and information on this important issue is provided in this recent article in MJA Insight https://insightplus.mja.com.au/2023/19/every-doctor-has-a-right-to-a-safe-workplace/

Media contact: 0419 402 955