No worker deserves to get punched bitten, slapped, kicked, or spat on while going about their work duties. Unfortunately, our frontline health care workers sometimes have to endure this from patients, their families, or even bystanders at accidents.
As a community, we have made it clear that this is unacceptable and anyone found guilty of assaulting a health care worker can face up to 14 years in prison.
Unfortunately it seems that those who commit these outrages aren’t thinking of consequences at the time, and we as a community find this practice unacceptable, and respect for our health care workers needs to be reinforced.
That’s why recently the Palaszczuk government through Health Minister Cameron Dick launched a campaign to raise awareness of the consequences of assaulting a health care worker under the theme, assault isn’t part of the job it’s a crime.
The campaign has stark and graphic posters and TV advertising that sends a chill up the spine. In one ad a patient in a neck brace turns to address the camera, “these guys deserve a medal not a black eye”. We know that traumatic accidents and serious illness in an emergency room can be very stressful for patients and family, and the addition of drugs and alcohol makes the situation worse.
The government is spending $135 million dollars to promote public awareness, but this campaign will be even more powerful if we are spreading the message from family member to family member, neighbour to neighbour, and friend to friend.
I have posted both the still poster images and the dramatic TV advertising on my Facebook page, facebook.com/linuspower/, or go to the Healthier Queensland YouTube page and share the video clips or social media to spread the message and make sure every Queenslander knows that we say assault isn’t part of the job. It’s a crime.
