The safety of nurses, patients and visitors at Wollongong Hospital could be at risk if the hospital goes ahead with plans to remove a ground-floor lunch room, a union claims.
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The NSW Health Services Union says the proposal would significantly blow out response times from security guards to duress alarms in the emergency department, potentially leaving medical staff to contend with volatile patients.
At present, security officers can respond from the lunch room in just 90 seconds.
But the union believes plans to remove the lunch room, forcing staff to use the ninth floor cafeteria, means guards would have to bolt to the ground-floor emergency department, taking them up to seven minutes.
HSU NSW secretary Gerard Hayes said guards were regularly called to duress alarms in their meal breaks and were keen to respond to emergencies quickly.
‘‘The officers have no control over when incidents occur but they’re expected to respond as soon as possible, not whenever they can get there,’’ he said.
‘‘They’re entitled to have their meal breaks but they understand the nature of the job is 24/7 and they’re prepared to do that but they want to be able to respond instantly, not take five to 10 minutes to get there.’’
A Wollongong Hospital spokeswoman said ongoing adjustments had been made to the hospital’s office and staff amenity spaces as part of redevelopment.
She told the Mercury hospital management would continue to work with those affected by the changes to ensure appropriate consultation occurred.
Mr Hayes believes the proposal poses a real threat to the safety of nurses and patients, particularly in the high-stress emergency department.
‘‘There is a lot of alcohol and drug-fuelled violence from patients or people presenting with heightened states of psychological distress ... the nursing staff want to know the guards can be there straight away,’’ he said.
‘‘It’s very much a risk for other patients, visitors and other staff in the hospital; people want to know when they’re in hospital that they’re safe, that’s why we’re taking it so seriously.’’
The union claims the hospital’s lift would not be an option for the guards, noting it was notoriously slow and often loaded with patients, food carts and visitors.
The union sent a letter to the hospital yesterday, asking management to withdraw the proposal.
Mr Hayes said union members were willing to take industrial action to fight the change.
‘‘We’re hoping [the letter] is a good opportunity for common sense to be realised,’’ he said.
‘‘I think it’s just a quick decision that’s been made without really thinking about the consequences.’’
The HSU is set to meet other unions today to further discuss the proposal.