Vital safety boost for macedon health services

Kyneton Hospital will benefit from additional safety measures to reduce and prevent violence through the second round of the Andrews Labor Government’s $20 million Health Service Violence Prevention Fund.

Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas today announced that Kyneton District Health had secured $95,340 from the $20 million Health Service Violence Prevention Fund.

Hospitals and mental health services across the state will see significant safety and security upgrades, including additional CCTV, more personal duress devices and alarms, and new infrastructure such as security doors, windows and restricted access areas.

Kyneton District Health will receive funding to increase staff and patient security within the urgent care, acute ward and patient reception area.

This includes installation of additional fixed duress alarms and swipe card access, development of a secure triage area, relocation of drug storage area and increasing visibility of the nurses station. These projects build on the success of the first round of funding and continue to deliver on the Labor Government’s election promise to reduce violence at hospitals and mental health services by improving facilities and making them safer for staff, patients and visitors.

CEO of Kyneton District Health Maree Cuddihy said, "More than 3,000 people attend our Urgent Care Centre each year and we are committed to keeping our staff safe as they go about their work providing Best Care to the community. These funds will really help us do that."

The Victorian Auditor-General’s Report into Occupational Health Violence Against Healthcare Workers found nurses, doctors, paramedics and other healthcare workers face particular risks because "they are at the frontline when it comes to dealing with people in stressful, unpredictable and potentially volatile situations."

The Government is also funding a new public awareness campaign to reduce violence in Victorian hospitals as part of our plan to stop attacks against frontline health and mental health workers.

Quotes attributable to Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas MP
"Kyneton District Health workers and their patients will now be safer and more secure thanks to this funding."

"Kyneton Hospital has an incredibly dedicated health and mental health workforce who deserve to feel safe and protected in the important work that they do."