Attacks on hospital staff fuelled by drugs

Attacks on Nelson Hospital staff by cannabis smoking mental health patients has raised concerns about staff safety.

A group of young male patients in the hospital's mental health admission unit assaulted staff in May after smoking cannabis, Nelson Marlborough District Health board's hospital advisory committee was told this week.

"One staff member had a computer keyboard smashed over his head," hospital and health services general manager Keith Rusholme told the committee.

The health board may now consider whether it is necessary to build an intensive psychiatric care unit to accommodate such patients. It was estimated the unit would cost $388,000.

Mr Rusholme said the patients had been moved to a secure unit but this was not best practice, and they could not be transferred outside the region as there were no beds available.

Mr Rusholme said there was a need for a specialised secure unit so these patients could be managed away from other patients who were entitled to less restrictive conditions.

The advisory committee has asked for a report to look at how other health boards are handling such issues.

The committee was told that the male patients had been "very aggressive" towards staff and the smoking of cannabis may have exacerbated their symptoms.

Police had been brought in to ascertain if the drugs were being used on or offsite.

The presence of police had heightened the aggression of the patients which led to the "assaultive behaviour".

There had also been a "high level" of patients going AWOL from the unit, possibly to access drugs.

Mr Rusholme said the threat of violence was a continuing issue and over many years staff had been subjected to severe assault.

The problem of aggressive behaviour in patients under the influence of drugs was of "growing concern" around the country, he said.

- nzpa