NSW public hospital staff will go on strike to make a stand against fears of unsafe work environments.
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More than 22,000 paramedics, allied health, catering, wards people, administration and security staff voted unanimously to stop work for four hours on August 1, including those at Wagga Base Hospital.
The strike is organised under the Health Services Union, and NSW secretary Gerard Hayes said "members are sick of being treated as punching bags".
"We do not take this strike action lightly, it really is a last resort," he said.
"We've seen too many people stabbed, too many people shot, too many people who have been spat upon or punched, too many people getting PTSD because they went to work.
"We need 250 extra security officers with special constable powers and we need them now."
NSW health minister Brad Hazzard said the government are hearing the members' concerns, but action takes time.
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"Unfortunately security issues across all health services reflect what's happening in our community and we have worked extensively with those in the health system and HSU to resolve these issues so far," he said.
"We have a complete review going on at the moment with former Labor health minister and policeman Peter Anderson who will visit about 40 hospitals and regional facilities across the state to make recommendations on improvements.
"I respect their request for better security, but logically we should wait for the review to be completed, which will hopefully be before the end of the year and then make decisions from there."
Mr Hazzard said the government had already made efforts to improve workplace safety in hospitals.
"We have spent $19 million recently on increasing security in places like emergency departments of hospitals to install things like portable alarms for staff and more security staff, but there's always more that can be done," he said.