William Kevin Robins, 27, was found guilty of several attacks on frontline health professionals. With a recent incident at Tamworth Hospital having raised serious concerns, the safety of healthcare staff comes into sharp focus. Robins bit a security guard on the hand while he attempted to fight off arrest. This event led to a full lockdown in the hospital’s emergency department. Robins was violent toward the arresting officers and assaulted four security guards. During the escape, guards tried to intervene.
Cuff and foot shackled, Robins gnashed his teeth and fought the guards off. By the end of this violent and fitful outburst, all four people in the room would be hurt. Shockingly, these guards were simultaneously making surveillance videos documenting what was occurring during the time of the assault. Robins was found guilty on October 13 of four counts of assault. He was convicted and was due to appear at Tamworth Local Court for his sentencing hearing but failed to appear. As a remedy, a warrant for his arrest was issued on Monday.
Legislative Changes and Hospital Security
The New South Wales government passed a law in 2022 to protect healthcare workers from repeated acts of aggression. They successfully lobbied to amend the Crimes Act 1900, formally designating hospital security personnel as frontline healthcare workers. This change in the state legislature will help to better protect those who work on the inside of hospitals and acknowledge the heightened difficulty they have been experiencing.
Health Minister Ryan Park is concerned by the safety of hospital security officers. First, he aims to put more robust protective measures in place to ensure their well-being. I’m still working on ideas to give security people the power and incentive to do better, so they can be safer and more effective in their roles. It’s so important that they’re able to do their job and protect the staff, patients, and visitors.
The minister admitted that there is no quick fix to the problem of violence in emergency departments. “There’s not a silver bullet to this. We’re experiencing patients and visitors entering our emergency departments with extremely aggressive actions,” Park said.
Increasing Security Measures
Considering recent events, Park announced that the state had already boosted security staffing levels by roughly 10 percent. He attempted to downplay the decision by suggesting more changes could be made to keep staff and patients safe. We’ll certainly need to take a look at if we push that dial even more,” he said.
Most importantly, Park emphasized the need for real-world feedback on the effectiveness of any new security measures. I want to hear about their performance, he continued. Finally, are they identifying if their officers are de-escalating situations? Ongoing improvement in hospital security protocols is equally important.
The recent attack on hospital security personnel serves as a stark reminder of the risks faced by those working in healthcare settings. In Australia, the New South Wales government is currently engaged in consultations to expand security powers. Their goal is to create a greener and safer environment for healthcare workers and patients.
