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AMA (NSW) President Dr Michael Bonning has commended the NSW Government for amending the Crimes Act to include GPs, other private specialists, nurses and receptionists in legislation to protect frontline health workers. Under the legislation aggressive patients can be jailed from 12 months up to 14 years.
“Everyone deserves to feel safe in their workplace and this amendment provides additional safeguards to allow all doctors and private health workers to attend to patients with greater peace of mind.” Dr Bonning said.
“Attacks, both physical and verbal, on doctors, nurses and practice staff are sadly, not uncommon.”
“Physical assaults have increased in frequency in recent years. I personally was attacked in the workplace but was fortunate enough to manoeuvre my way out of the situation.
“It is a relief to see that the greater protections provided to frontline health workers in 2022 have now been extended to include the thousands of private sector health workers like GPs, other private specialists as well as nurses and receptionists.” Dr Bonning said.
The Crimes Legislation Amendment (Assaults on Frontline Emergency and Health Workers) Bill 2022 passed in parliament on 19 October 2022, providing additional protection for frontline workers including police, law enforcement, emergency services and public health workers.
AMA (NSW) provided submissions in the lead up to the 2022 Bill detailing the risk of harm to private medical practitioners from aggressive patients, but doctors, nurses and their staff in the private sector were not included in the bill, and therefore not afforded the same protections.
“AMA (NSW) has campaigned tirelessly on this issue and is very pleased that the government worked with doctors to amend the legislation.” Dr Bonning said.
“I raised this issue with Health Minister Ryan Park in our first meeting and he immediately took steps to address the issue. On behalf of the doctors and their staff in NSW we thank him and the NSW Parliament.” Dr Bonning said.
Last night the NSW Parliament passed the Amendment of Crimes Act 1900 No 40 2024 as part of the Health Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous) Bill 2024. The amendment expands the definition of frontline workers to include doctors, nurses, reception staff and other health workers employed in private practice.
In passing the amendment, Minister Park said “I want to thank the NSW Australian Medical Association for their advocacy for this change, especially Dr Michael Bonning.”
“It is unfortunate these added protections are necessary, but we are grateful for them.” Dr Bonning said.
“Doctors, nurses and staff in private practice face daily abuse over issues such as; running behind schedule, not having appointments available, not providing mobility parking to ineligible patients, and for refusing to write prescriptions for opiates or benzodiazepines. These attacks are not appropriate, and they are now illegal.
“AMA (NSW) hopes this new legislation will further discourage what is a minority of patients from abusing, harassing or, in the worst cases, assaulting the hard-working private sector doctors of this state.
“We thank the majority of patients who treat doctors, nurses and staff with respect.” Dr Bonning added.
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