Off the back of shocking violence statistics in hospitals, the WA Health Department is considering looking at introducing airport-style security gates to protect staff.

AMA WA weighed in on this suggestion with their Emergency Medicine Spokesperson Dr David Mountain telling Karl O’Callaghan all options should be looked at but he isn’t sure how practical scanning everyone coming into an ED will be.

“Weapons are a small part of the issue. It’s the highly abusive, aggressive people who use their fists, their teeth or objects in the ED or up on the wards to assault staff.

“So it’s difficult to know how this kind of change would make a huge difference.

“But we are pleased the Minister is engaged and is trying to work trough various solutions.”

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