Canberra Hospital has implemented metal detection wand screenings for all patients entering the Behavioural Assessment Unit (BAU) following a disturbing incident last month in which a man threatened staff with a knife. Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith announced these safety measures after the staff were forced to take refuge in a secure area for three hours during the confrontation.
The 35-year-old individual was brought to the BAU by police after allegedly violating the terms of his psychiatric treatment order. Although he had been searched by law enforcement prior to his arrival at the unit, he managed to conceal a knife in his ankle and subsequently threatened the hospital staff. During the standoff, police attempted to negotiate with him but ultimately resorted to using a flashbang device to safely disarm him.
In a statement to the Legislative Assembly, Minister Stephen-Smith detailed the immediate actions taken by Canberra Health Services in response to the event. “Following the incident, we have instituted continuous wanding searches in the BAU, regardless of prior inspections,” she shared. Furthermore, she indicated that security measures within the BAU and the emergency department would be enhanced.
To improve safety protocols, the action plan now mandates that police must notify hospital staff in advance when transporting complex patients requiring treatment. Minister Stephen-Smith also mentioned that construction will begin to create a direct exit from the secure staff area to the emergency department, addressing concerns that had been raised prior to the incident regarding the existing exit points, which both lead back into the BAU.
Current exits from the secure staff station do not provide a route away from the BAU, which meant that during the incident, staff were unable to escape without re-entering the same area as the patient. “In this situation, staff could not use either exit as it would lead them into the same large space as the consumer,” she explained.
Additionally, the safety plan includes measures to rectify communication failures that hindered police coordination on the day of the incident and a review of the hospital’s ‘code black’ policies, which are activated in response to threats of violence. Minister Stephen-Smith noted an increase in code black incidents in hospitals, correlating with rising occupational violence.
In response to the event, ACT Opposition leader Mark Parton criticized the government for minimizing the severity of the incident, labeling it preventable. “What’s most troubling is not only what transpired but how the government is framing the situation,” he remarked. Parton asserted that adherence to search protocols, improved infrastructure design for emergencies, and addressing staff concerns proactively could have averted the crisis. He expressed frustration at what he perceives as a recurring cycle of warnings being overlooked until an incident occurs.
