Source : Perth Now news
An election pledge to station protective services officers at major hospitals has raised eyebrows after it was revealed most of the facilities had not been consulted on the plan.
Victorian Opposition Leader Jess Wilson announced on Sunday the officers would be stationed at seven major hospitals to improve security if the coalition won power at the November election.
The two-year pilot would position 70 officers at the hospitals to respond to serious accidents, assist with prisoner guarding and be available to escort hospital workers to their vehicles.
The officers would work with hospital management on the deployment model that works best for them, she said.
Ms Wilson and opposition health spokeswoman Georgie Crozier announced the election promise outside Melbourne’s The Alfred hospital, where they faced questions about a lack of consultation.
When asked if she had spoken to all seven hospitals about taking part in the trial, Ms Crozier admitted she had only spoken to one so far.
“They have concerns … they have told me that every patient that comes into an emergency department, they check them for knives,” she told reporters.
“They are concerned about their staff and their patients with the escalating assaults and violence that is occurring.”
When asked what would happen if the other six hospitals rejected the plan, Ms Crozier said it would still go ahead given escalating violence in hospitals, where as many as 65 incidents a day were being reported.
“This will be our policy. We believe this is warranted,” she said.
Ms Crozier also said she had not discussed the plan with Victoria Police Commissioner Mike Bush, who oversees the deployment and management of the officers across the state.
Labor minister Anthony Carbines said it was important to listen to health professionals, questioning why the opposition was focusing on law and order in hospitals instead of investing in nurses and other workers.
“I would take advice from our health services about what’s best to support their workforce and what’s best to support people in need,” he said.
“I’ll take advice from them, not from the opposition, about what services are needed in hospitals.”
The coalition enjoys a narrow lead over Labor in recent opinion polls, although high support for One Nation makes a hung parliament likely.
A Roy Morgan poll, released on Friday, put the coalition ahead of Labor 51-49 on a two-party preferred basis.
