Join Us
Login
Submit search
Toggle Navigation
Benefits
Why join
Join Online
Update or Renew your Membership
Contests and promotions
Journey Accident and Professional Indemnity Insurance
Nurse and Midwife Students: Join the NSWNMA for free today!
NSWNMA branch pages on Facebook
Retired Member Activist Group
Member Benefits Program
Association Member Training
NSWNMA app for smartphones
Visa Assist
Merchandise
Member Actions
Ratios: It’s a life saver
Public Health System Award Claim 2022
Know Your Rights
Safer hospitals = safer communities
Ratios for Aged Care
News
Media Releases
The Lamp
Work Health & Safety (WHS)
Safer Work Safer Care
PPE: Your right to practice safely
Racism. It Stops With Me.
Climate change and the health system
Education
Education
Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
Education calendar
Scholarships
Association Member Training
Professional publications
Reports
Submissions
Podcasts
Library services
Online Catalogue
Policies and guidelines
Events
Annual Conference – Professional Day
Annual Conference – Sponsorship
Professional Courses
Industrial
Industrial issues
Awards and conditions
Public health system
Aged care enterprise agreements
Private hospitals enterprise agreements
Wage Calculator and list of agreements
Miscellaneous enterprise agreements
Glossary of terms about working life
Who We Are
About the NSWNMA
Annual report and strategic plan
About the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation New South Wales Branch
History
Council of the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association
NSWNMA structure
Our internal structure
Careers at NSWNMA
Affiliations and sponsors
Nursing, midwifery and union links
About nursing and midwifery in NSW
Contact us
Cough or spit on frontline workers: you will cop it
Posted
on
April 9, 2020
The NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) has welcomed tough new laws, including on-the-spot fines, for individuals who assault nurses, midwives, police, paramedics and other frontline staff who are working tirelessly to keep our communities safe in the current pandemic.
NSW Health Minister, Brad Hazzard, today announced a new public health order, approved by the NSW Governor, allowing NSW Police the power to issue a $5,000 on-the-spot fine and possible imprisonment for breaches of the regulation.
NSWNMA General Secretary, Brett Holmes, said the level of verbal abuse and aggression towards frontline health workers in uniform was abhorrent and had to stop.
“We’ve had dozens of reports from our members who have been abused in recent weeks, often while wearing their scrubs in the community and also in COVID-19 screening clinics,” said Mr Holmes.
“From nurses and midwives in hospital settings to aged care – all health workers deserve to feel safe in their uniform. It’s appalling behaviour by members of the public, especially when these assaults are happening against highly skilled, trained professionals.
“Nurses and midwives are leaders when it comes to infection control protocols, hand hygiene and public safety. They are at the frontline in tackling this pandemic and must be applauded for the work they’re doing to keep patients and our broader community safe.
“In the past day, we’ve heard that a nurse had another customer kick her trolley in a supermarket and hurl abuse, yelling:
‘I don’t want your f…… viruses, stay the f…… away from me!’
, leaving the nurse in tears.
“We’ve also heard of a nurse who was discriminated against at a petrol station, while wearing her clean uniform on her way to work. The store attendant told her: ‘
You are disgusting wearing your uniform – you know I can refuse to serve you’
.
“It’s extremely disappointing frontline workers, who are trying to save lives, are being treated in this way.
“Today’s announcement is very welcome and we do hope it encourages people to stop and think before acting so hideously.”
Download this release:
Cough or spit on frontline workers, you will cop it
Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
Help us fight for stronger, fairer conditions in NSW
Join Us
Login
Find Your Branch on Facebook
Join our mailing list
Sign Up