Please be kind
AS we move towards the festive season, we reflect on the year it has been in healthcare, marked by a third year of the COVID pandemic, external flood disaster and a worldwide chronic shortage of healthcare professionals, the team at Swan Hill District Health collectively wish for one thing only under our tree.
That one thing we wish for is kindness and respect to all
Over this past few months, the SHDH care and frontline teams have experienced firsthand increased and unprecedented levels of anger, aggression and inappropriate behaviour from those people that we are seeking to help.
In the past 12 months, the Victorian Public health sector, SHDH included, has experienced significant workforce loss of almost 20 per cent of its frontline health professionals. Much of this loss results from burnout and a significant number of current and past healthcare workers report feeling unsafe in their work environment as a contributing factor.
Recently, the number of SHDH employees, including healthcare students looking to forge a new health care career, who have been subject to or have witnessed inappropriate behaviour has significantly escalated. This has directly led to a loss of our essential healthcare workers either on a temporary or a permanent basis which, ultimately impacts on the level of care and services we can provide.
Whilst we understand that this can be a tough and stressful time for many and for those needing to access essential healthcare it can often cause increased stress, we urge the community to please be kind and respectful to our team.
Peter Abraham
Chief executive office
Swan Hill District Health
