The severity of domestic violence at Northern Territory hospitals is driving healthcare workers away from the job, doctors warn.
Domestic violence accounted for the majority of their workload but the trauma of treating heinous injuries was contributing to ongoing staff shortages, says Alice Springs-based Australasian College of Emergency Medicine president Stephen Gourley.
"It isn't a weekend thing – it is every single day," Dr Gourley said.
"It traumatises the staff who look after the victims.
"Emergency department staff get distressed by the frequency, the volume and by the sheer ferocity of the violence – and it's getting worse."
Hospital presentations as a result of domestic violence in the NT were 1000 times higher than anywhere in the nation in 2022, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data shows.
AIHW figures also show the rate of domestic violence presentation per 100,000 is 518 in the NT compared to the next highest jurisdiction in WA of 39 per 100,000.
"Staff in territory emergency departments are treating high numbers of women every day for facial fractures, head injuries, strangulation, stabbings and defensive broken arms – from holding up their arms to try and protect themselves," Dr Gourley said.
Territorians head to the polls on August 24 and the Australasian College of Emergency Medicine has said it would publicly support any party that engages with NT's emergency clinicians on ways to fix and improve the delivery of care.
It called on both major parties to urgently address alcohol-fuelled violence and to adequately staff emergency departments across the territory.
"In Alice Springs we know, first-hand, that health-focused initiatives aimed at curbing unsafe alcohol use can help keep people safer, reduce violence – including in emergency departments – and decrease the number of preventable presentations," Dr Gourley said.
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