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Summer 2006

Medical Orderlies Code Black Ban

In July this year, medical orderlies at the Royal Hobart Hospital held a membership meeting to discuss serious safety concerns in relation to code blacks.

A code black occurs when a member of hospital staff requires assistance aggressive, or potentially aggressive, patient or visitor.

Members felt frustrated at continually being placed in dangerous situations involving people who were violent, threatening and aggressive. This included a staff member being knocked unconscious during a code black response. They also believed that the primary responsibility for dealing with aggression and violence in the hospital should lie with security staff not orderlies.

These concerns had been repeatedly raised with management over the past three years, but had not been addressed.

As a result of the continuing lack of action from hospital management on the code black issue, members decided in August to undertake industrial action; banning the full participation of orderlies in code blacks in several departments: Department of Emergency Medicine; Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit; and the Department of Psychological Medicine.

"They have not addressed the issues we originally raised - security and occupational health and safety"

Management have refused to increase security guard numbers, and instead offered to reclassify medical orderlies positions to a higher classification.

While members support reclassifying their positions they still want a safe work place.

Delegate Rodney Mandic, HACSU delegate and orderly, explains, "They have not addressed the issues we originally raised - security and occupational health and safety. They've just put money on the table."

Members are seeking a resolution that allows orderlies to choose not to participate in code blacks, along with a safe process with appropriate security involvement for those who do agree to participate. Members also seek proper remuneration for this important role.