“Bogan Shire Council wholeheartedly supports our local nursing staff in the vital services they provide to our community and strongly condemns the alleged threats of violence to them and their families,” councillors noted at the most recent meeting.

Nyngan branch of the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) attended Council last week to highlight their ongoing security concerns and discuss recent violent incidents at the facility.

During its ordinary meeting last Thursday, Council resolved to contact the CEO of the Western NSW Local Health District, new state Minister for Health Brad Hazzard and local member for Barwon Kevin Humphries on the issue of nurses’ security at the local hospital.

“The employment of an ‘out of daylight hours’ security officer/officers at the hospital, improved entrance security to doors and windows at the MPS,” councillors noted.

“Provision of a modern duress system (with internal communication) and ways to contact local emergency services were the main way staff felt would considerably improve their safety,” 

Nyngan Branch members have written to local management repeatedly to address their concerns following multiple violent incidents at the MPS over the past three months.

Management has agreed to several interim measures, such as reinforced glass entry doors and security monitors, however no longer term solutions have been reached.

Branch members have confirmed they plan to engage the community in an anti-violence awareness campaign alongside local police and paramedics.

The branch will continue to lobby local management for increased staff safety measures at Nyngan MPS, including for the allocation of hospital security assistants during night shift.