Queensland nurses are raising the alarm about escalating threats to their personal safety, claiming security guards at public hospitals are being instructed not to help them walk to their cars after late shifts — even in areas known for assaults.
The Nurses’ Professional Association of Queensland (NPAQ), a breakaway union, says it has received multiple reports from hospital staff alleging that security officers are being told not to intervene in violent incidents or escort staff beyond the hospital entrance, despite increasing threats from aggressive individuals loitering outside healthcare facilities.
The issue gained renewed attention following a violent attack on Anzac Day at Ipswich Hospital, where three nurses were allegedly assaulted by a patient who had been removed from the emergency ward for aggressive behaviour. One nurse was repeatedly kicked while lying in a foetal position, while a colleague who rushed to help sustained a broken wrist.
In the wake of the attack, staff say they were verbally advised to “walk in pairs” to their cars for safety — a move that has sparked anger and disbelief among healthcare workers.
“It’s like they’re putting the responsibility back on us,” one nurse said. “We joke about Meredith Lane being called ‘rape alley’, but it’s not funny when you’re walking it alone at midnight.”
Meredith Lane, a dimly lit laneway near Ipswich Hospital, has become a symbol of the wider crisis, with staff sharing stories of harassment, intimidation, and even being followed. Some have resorted to carrying personal alarms or calling family members to escort them — even if it means waking their children.
Despite Queensland Health’s own occupational violence guidelines recommending staff be escorted to car parks and external areas after dark, nurses say this is rarely happening in practice.
NPAQ President Kara Thomas described the situation as “a complete failure in duty of care.”
“We’ve had reports of security guards watching nurses be assaulted but not stepping in because they’ve been told they’re not authorised to act outside hospital doors — even if the incident is metres from the entrance,” she said.
Hospitals such as Cairns, Redcliffe, and Ipswich have been repeatedly named by staff as high-risk areas, particularly during night shifts. While West Moreton Health — which oversees Ipswich Hospital — insists that security escorts are available 24/7 and that a shuttle bus operates until 11.20pm, nurses say the service is not sufficient.
One nurse described being dropped off at nearby Limestone Park only to be immediately approached by aggressive individuals.
“It’s a joke to say we’re safe when you’re left alone in the dark with nowhere to go,” she said.
A broader issue feeding into this crisis is parking. Nurses working night shifts often have no choice but to park in streets or public areas far from the hospital, with limited lighting and no surveillance. A recent NPAQ survey found some nurses spend more than $40 a week on parking — often in insecure locations — or risk fines for overstaying time limits.
Many nurses have reported turning down night shifts altogether, citing safety fears. Others are arriving hours early to secure safer parking spots, or asking family members to drop them off and pick them up, even at inconvenient hours.
The NPAQ is calling for a range of urgent reforms, including:
Subsidised or free parking for healthcare workers on late shifts
Increased external security presence during shift changeovers
Better lighting and emergency alarms on pedestrian routes
Partnerships with local councils to create dedicated staff parking zones
While Health Minister Tim Nicholls has acknowledged the seriousness of the issue and committed to a review, union leaders say action is needed now — not months down the track.
“No nurse should have to choose between personal safety and a pay cheque,” said Thomas. “These are preventable, traumatic incidents happening on Queensland Health’s watch. We need real, immediate solutions — not platitudes.”
For many nurses, the question isn’t if something will happen — it’s when.
“We care for others every single day,” one nurse said. “The least the system could do is care for us too.”
This is a situation that has been happening for a very long time.
Perhaps where possible a section of hospital car parking area could be provided for nurseing staff only at a reduced rate with proof of employment required to gain this advantage.
Parking at and around any hospital is difficult for both staff and patients and visitors.
Why the hell is this even an issue??? Nurses deserve all the protections that can be made available in this situation! Some stupid public servant has made such a ridiculous edict concerning security staff in hospitals. Give the nurses what thay are asking for, it is NOT hard you idiots!!!
Our nurses deserve to be cared for. Hospital Admin/boards must pay for Security on a 24 hour basis for goodness sakes, do your job people, our nurses deserve better.