Heroes under fire: The scary truth of violence inside our hospitals

One of Australia’s top trauma surgeons says physical violence is a constant threat for our hospital workers.

Dr John Crozier, trauma chair at the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, spoke to Neil Mitchell today as Melbourne hopes and prays for a doctor king-hit at Box Hill hospital yesterday (latest here).

Dr Crozier said alcohol- and drug-affected patients were the most prone to physical contact, and he himself has been subjected to biting and kicking.

“My experience is not an uncommon one,” he said.

“And I particularly make a plea, it’s the nursing staff who far, far too frequently – every night in particular … who are subjected to these patterns of violence.”

Dr Crozier said Dr Patrick Pritzwald-Stegmann’s life “hangs in the balance” and, if he does survive, his career as a surgeon is “heavily threatened”.

Click PLAY for the full interview