Health workers face drug violence

Nicola Cowling of the public health agency, Anex, yesterday trained local frontline health workers in the dangers of treating drug users.

Rob Wright

HEALTH professionals are sick of being assaulted, abused and bullied by the people they're trained to help - their patients.

Worst of all, research shows that violence against doctors and nurses is occurring greatest in regional centres like Coffs Harbour.

Yesterday, as local health and community workers were trained in how to treat drug users in Coffs Harbour, it was revealed that 70 per cent of regional doctors and nurses had experienced workplace violence.

The Rural Doctors Association claims that drug and alcohol abuse, along with mental health issues, are the underlying factors behind the violence.

“This is having a notable impact on the ability of rural, regional and remote communities to attract and keep rural doctors, nurses, teachers and other professionals,” Rural Doctors president Nola Maxfield said.

The reported patient outbursts range from physical assault to verbal abuse, Dr Maxfield said.

The Parliament House roundtable attracted input from GPs, nurses teachers, police and other medical professional.

Meanwhile, the Coffs Harbour drug forum, organised by public health training agency Anex, involved 20 frontline workers.

Among those attending were nurses, drug and alcohol workers, counsellors and TAFE teachers.

Trainer Nicola Cowling says the forums have been held in 23 centres across NSW, aiming to highlight the risks associated with treating people who use illicit drugs.

“Frontline workers in the region are seeing an increase in the use of methamphetamines, specifically ice and speed,” Anex CEO John Ryan said.

“There are specific harms caused by these drugs and we need skilled community service providers in place, across both health services and law enforcement to manage consequential dependency and crisis situations,” he said.