Stats show it is becoming more dangerous to be a health worker in WA. 

Nurse aggression in Broome, Western Australia (WA), has nearly doubled over the past two years, with a rise in community crime and extended hospital wait times being cited as contributing factors. 

According to the WA Country Health Service (WACHS), there were 132 emergency “code black” calls made between February 1 and April 30 this year, compared to 69 calls during the same period in 2021. 

A code black call is triggered when an individual poses a threat of harm to themselves or others.

Janet Reah, the state secretary of the Australian Nurses Federation, says things are made worse by the interconnectedness of issues such as hospital understaffing and rising crime rates, with patients' frustration levels and drug or alcohol use contributing to the aggression faced by nurses. 

She also criticised lenient legal outcomes for perpetrators of violence against nurses.

Rex O'Rourke, the executive director of WACHS Kimberley, says there is a zero-tolerance approach toward aggressive behaviour and mentioned the implementation of an early escalation protocol to proactively address perceived threats. 

Security measures and de-escalation techniques are in place at Broome Health Campus to ensure the safety of staff.

A spokesperson for Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson condemned any violence against hospital staff and pledged the government's commitment to enacting reforms that improve nurse and midwife-to-patient ratios. 

The state says these reforms are essential for safeguarding the well-being of the healthcare workforce.