The government is boosting security in emergency departments over the summer, employing an extra 200 people to help keep our hospitals safe.

Health Minister Dr Shane Reti made an announcement regarding the $5.7 million​ boost at Auckland City Hospital on Friday morning.

“Our government has listened to ED staff about the increased frequency of violent incidents in hospitals,” Reti said.

“That’s why we’ve committed to these additional workers to help keep patients – and our hard-working doctors, nurses and other ED staff – safe during a particularly busy time.”

In 2021, Te Whatu Ora (Health New Zealand) reported 1179​ assaults, rising to 3459​ in 2022.

In the first three months of 2023, 1267​ assaults were reported.

Reti said if this trend continues, it will have exceeded 5000 reported incidents in 2023, which was “totally unacceptable”.

Eight higher risk emergency departments – in the four Auckland hospitals (North Shore, Waitākere, Auckland City and Middlemore), Waikato, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin will each receive an additional five security staff, for an extended period until the end of February.

A further 24 emergency departments near summer hotspots will each receive between two and five additional security staff to help manage pressures over the summer holiday peak period, Reti said.

These staff would be available through to mid-January or late February, depending on local needs.

“The safety of the health workforce and patients has to be a priority. These staff will be ready to provide round-the-clock cover and the first people are on the ground already,” Reti said.

Reti said the initiative addresses an immediate need, with some staff already deployed.

Reti said the security guards will all be trained both in the classroom and onsite.

“They’ll be well-prepared…a large part of the toolset is dialogue.”

“I’m also committed to working urgently on a longer-term plan to improve security across our hospitals.”

“There’s no place for people being abusive or aggressive towards staff, who are doing their absolute best for their fellow New Zealanders in often stressful situations.”

Reti said these 200​ staff (93 FTE)​are “early steps in making a tangible difference to safety”.

The Health Minister said Auckland City Hospital already has a de-escalation model that focusses on communication with those who are violent physically or verbally.

The model gives an ability to understand the patient’s cultural context and provides appropriate de-escalation through communication. This model might be used across other hospitals, Reti said.

Emergency medicine specialist Dr Mark Friedericksen said visitors to ED can be vulnerable, often under the influence of drugs and alcohol and are at their lowest and worried for their healthcare.

“There’s a lot of verbal abuse, physical abuse, and we just don’t tolerate that.”

But having security guards, who are taught to de-escalate is key.

“Having just the presence, and they’re a calming presence… to try and reduce people actually becoming aggressive” would make a “massive difference,” Friedericksen said.

The guards make both the staff, whānau and other patients feel safe too.

He hoped the additional security would be extended beyond February – “it’s needed for patient care”.

In the lead-up to the election, the Australasian College of Emergency Medicine (ACEM) called for appropriately trained security staff to be posted 24-hours a day in every emergency department around the country.

At the time, ACEM said as waits for care rise, violence in EDs – including physical assault, verbal abuse, threats and aggressive behaviours – was getting worse.

“All people must be safe to receive, deliver and support care in emergency departments, and violence or aggression cannot be accepted.”