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Northern Hospital notification brings OVA action

An OVA notification to ANMF after an incident at Northern Hospital has led to staff training and systemic changes.

On 1 April police were called to restrain a patient who attacked staff after they tried to stop the patient self-harming.
After nurses reported the OVA incident to ANMF, a members’ meeting was called. Members identified a lack of staff training in responding to OVA and the management of clinical aggression, a lack of patient risk assessment, and a need for the code black definition to be expanded beyond OVA incidents involving a weapon.
ANMF’s discussions with hospital management prompted staff training in OVA and management of clinical aggression, all clinical areas of the hospital are now classified as high risk, and the code black process now includes calling police if staff feel an OVA incident cannot be managed internally.

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