Hospitals and Healthcare

Nurses say they have been abused, threatened and assaulted in the town of Bourke. They are afraid the threat of violence is compromising the care of patients at the local hospital.

The woman was buckling her two young children into the car when she was allegedly slashed across the chest, inflicting a 15cm gash.

HEALTH bosses have conceded that Perth doctors and nurses expect to be assaulted at work after disturbing vision of a doctor at Royal Perth Hospital having his throat crushed in a chokehold by a mentally-disturbed 21-year-old man emerged in court.

The mental health service that has treated some of Victoria’s most complex prisoners - from schoolgirl killer Sean Price to Bourke Street murderer James Gargasoulas - has had almost 900 violent outbreaks in five years, leaving multiple staff hospitalised and seriously injured.

Shocking footage has been released by the Royal Melbourne Hospital as part of a new campaign which aims to talckle violent attacks on staff in the Emergency Department.