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Qld Health workers cop 20 assaults per day

New figures show there are an average of 20 verbal or physical attacks on Queensland Health workers each day.

The emergency department entrance of Cairns
Queensland Health hospital staff are being assaulted on average 20 times a day. (AAP)

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Source: AAP


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Queensland Health hospital staff are being assaulted on average 20 times a day.

Figures based on reports by doctors, nurses and security staff reveal more than 5000 physical and verbal attacks recorded between July 1, 2016 and March 8, 2017.

The mounting total means the number of assaults appears set to exceed the count for the 2015-16 financial year, which came in at 6402.

But it's hoped more CCTV cameras and peer support programs among a raft of new measures will help curb attacks.

Health Minister Cameron Dick says the government has been "hard at work" over the past six months rolling out the changes, which also include voice-activated duress alarms.

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Metro North chief executive Ken Whelan says body-worn cameras will also soon be available for security officers at every hospital in the state.

Queensland Nurses Union secretary Beth Mohle welcomed the changes on Friday but said there was no "one size fits all" solution.

She told AAP a high number of reported assaults could be a sign more staff are shrugging off the idea that coping abuse is all in day's work.

But the outsourcing of security personnel who may not have adequate training was "a real problem", Ms Mohle said.

Generally, people also seemed increasingly prone to aggressive and threatening outbursts, Together vice-president Dr Sandy Donald said.

"There certainly seems to be less inhibition in people than there used to be," he said.


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