BENDIGO Health has expressed its disappointment at claims from the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation over alleged incidents on staff at the Simpkin House psycho geriatric centre.
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The Victorian branch of the ANMF claimed it had been notified of 17 separate episodes of violence on staff from residents in the past month.
The incidents included reports of strangulation, punching, kicking, verbal abuse and scratching.
The federation also claimed Bendigo Health had denied its request for an urgent meeting.
A spokesperson for Bendigo Health said they disputed the claim regarding the meeting.
"Bendigo Health is very disappointed that the ANMF is claiming that we have denied a request to meet with them," the spokesperson said.
"Discussions to arrange a suitable meeting time were held and that meeting has already been arranged for 1.30pm tomorrow (Friday).
"At Bendigo Health the safety of our staff and patients is a top priority and any serious incident of assault should be reported to police."
The ANMF described the incidents as "deeply concerning" and that Simpkin House does not have a code grey policy for staff or an escalation plan.
Victorian secretary Lisa Fitzpatrick said the issue stemmed from inadequate safety procedures.
"We believe these incidents have occurred as a direct result of Bendigo Health's inadequate and unsafe occupational health and safety practices and policies," she said.
"The ANMF is alarmed to see the apparent lack of action by Bendigo Health while nursing staff at Simpkin House were being physically attacked.
"We are particularly disappointed at the reports of occupational violence and aggression given Bendigo Health’s executives’ history of commitment to improving hospital safety."
