Syringe trial backflip

CONCERNS for the safety of nurses have forced the Territory Government to dump plans for a syringe handout program at the Royal Darwin Hospital.

The trial was criticised by the Australian Nursing Federation last Thursday afternoon, saying threats to nursing staff and the level of violence in the hospital's emergency department (ED) meant it would not support the move.

When the Sunday Territorian contacted Health Minister Peter Toyne's spokesman Richard O'Leary on Friday morning, he confirmed the trial was about to begin.

"It's not a needle exchange, the Department is giving out needles but we don't take them in," he said. "It is the same service as at Alice Springs, Tennant Creek and Katherine hospitals."

Mr O'Leary said from the Department's point of view it will not impact on ED resources because "the triage nurse hands out needles and (receivers) are not waiting for treatment".

But late Friday, the Health Department contradicted Mr O'Leary, saying the trial would not go ahead.

"We are currently sorting through a few issues and the trial won't begin until these issues have been worked out to our satisfaction," Health Department spokesman Edwin Edlund said.

"We won't be going ahead with the trial until everything has been satisfactorily sorted out and therefore we are not in a position to answer further questions at this stage."

ANF industrial Officer Jane Carrigan said security at the RDH was
inadequate.

"A nurse was a mess from copping verbal abuse from an addict recently," Ms Carrigan said.

"And other nurses were recently threatened by a psychiatric patient and the fall-out from that was horrendous.

"The hospital support is modest and their is no security guard in ED."

Ms Carrigan said the ANF was not consulted about the proposed trial.

"Given that nurses are already overworked enough and given the levels of violence that the nurses are confronted with and the lack of support, yes, we are concerned," she said.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: 24th October 2004
Source: Northern Territory News
Author: Suellen Hinde
Copyright: 2004 Northern Territory News
Email: ntnmail@ntn.newsltd.com.au
Url: http://www.ntnews.com.au