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Minister Dismisses Healthcare Workers’ Safety Concerns Amid Controversial Police Policy
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey has sparked controversy by dismissing healthcare workers’ reports of violence as “continuously disappointing” while defending a contentious policy that limits police presence during mental health incidents.
The minister’s comments come in response to a new survey by the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO), which reveals overwhelming concerns about workplace safety following the government’s phased withdrawal of police from mental health call-outs.
“I am continually disappointed by the misinformation that comes from the unions around the police change programme,” Doocey stated. “They need to be upfront with their members and New Zealanders around what’s really happening.”
The government announced the policy change earlier this year, claiming it would allow officers to focus on “core policing” duties. However, the NZNO survey paints a troubling picture of its real-world impact on healthcare professionals.
Of the 31 mental health workers who responded to the survey, 94 percent reported feeling less safe at work since the implementation of the policy. Nearly three-quarters (71 percent) indicated that police were no longer responding when called to assist with difficult patients.
Perhaps most alarmingly, 94 percent of respondents reported being subjected to unacceptable behavior from patients, with half experiencing physical violence. Thirty-nine percent said they had been physically assaulted since the policy changes began.
Helen Garrick, chair of NZNO’s Mental Health Section, expressed frustration with the minister’s response. “Our feedback since this whole thing started from our members, and other nurses, was that this was a mistake,” she said.
Garrick questioned whether Doocey understood that the survey reflected direct member experiences. “We are upfront. We’re asking our members and we’re conveying what our members say.”
She also challenged the minister’s claim that Te Whatu Ora-Health New Zealand (HNZ) had reported no serious incidents linked to the programme. “We have been providing information. HNZ has information. We go to meetings with HNZ where specific incidents have been discussed. And yet he’s saying that they haven’t found any link to the police change programme?”
One particularly disturbing incident detailed in the survey involved a patient in methamphetamine-induced psychosis who was brought to an emergency department by police. After the patient had already assaulted an officer, police insisted on leaving immediately upon arrival, telling healthcare workers it was “no longer their responsibility to stay.”
Following the officers’ departure, the situation deteriorated rapidly. The patient punched a triage nurse, kicked and punched other staff members, and even choked one of the mental health clinicians. Emergency staff were forced to call 111, and it ultimately required three police officers, two mental health clinicians, and two security guards to safely sedate the patient.
According to the survey respondent, when police finally returned, they were “very dismissive to the point of rudeness” about the healthcare workers’ inability to manage the situation independently.
Police acting director of prevention Kyle Sherson stated that phase two of the programme introduced a 60-minute handover time in emergency departments for patients detained under mental health law. He emphasized that officers are required to conduct safety assessments before leaving and should remain if the situation is deemed unsafe.
Sherson added that police are working with HNZ to ensure the programme is implemented in a way “that ensures that appropriate care is provided to those in mental distress.”
Minister Doocey maintains that patient and staff safety remains the top priority, noting that each phase of the withdrawal program is activated “when and if it is safe to do so.” He urged mental health workers to report incidents to their managers for proper review.
However, Garrick finds the minister’s response “actually quite infuriating,” suggesting a fundamental disconnect between government policy and frontline realities. “It’s because they’re not listening… if Matt Doocey isn’t getting those things, then he needs to go back to upper management at HNZ and say ‘I need more information.'”
The controversy highlights growing tensions between healthcare professionals and policymakers as New Zealand attempts to reform its approach to mental health crisis response.
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10 Comments
This is a shocking and heartbreaking case. My condolences to the victim’s family and loved ones. The government needs to thoroughly investigate this incident and implement robust safety measures to protect healthcare workers.
Reducing police presence during mental health incidents seems extremely risky. I hope the government reconsiders this policy change and consults closely with healthcare professionals to find a safer solution.
Workplace violence against healthcare staff is a serious issue that requires urgent attention. I’m alarmed to hear about this tragic case and the broader safety concerns raised by nurses. Dismissing these concerns is unacceptable.
This is a horrific incident that highlights the very real dangers healthcare workers face on the job. The government’s dismissive response is deeply troubling and only serves to undermine trust in their ability to protect frontline staff.
Reducing police presence during mental health incidents seems like an incredibly risky move that could have devastating consequences. I hope the government reconsiders this policy change and consults closely with healthcare professionals to find a safer solution.
My heart goes out to the victim’s family and colleagues. This is a devastating tragedy that should never have happened. The government must take decisive action to improve workplace safety for healthcare workers.
Deeply concerning to hear about this tragic incident. Healthcare workers deserve to feel safe at their jobs. I hope the government takes these safety concerns seriously and works to address them urgently.
Dismissing healthcare workers’ valid concerns as ‘misinformation’ is unacceptable. The minister should listen to frontline staff and take immediate action to improve workplace safety.
It’s deeply troubling to see the government downplaying the very real safety risks faced by healthcare workers. Their voices need to be heard and their concerns must be addressed through concrete policy changes.
Withdrawing police support during mental health incidents is a highly questionable decision that appears to be putting frontline staff in harm’s way. The government needs to rethink this policy immediately.