‘A scene from a horror movie’

• Published date: 29 May 2023
• Author: Raphael Franks
• Publication title: Northern Advocate, The (Whangarei, New Zealand)

A patient staying at the Rawene Hospital in Northland, Chrissie Massey, said a “gentle and caring nurse [was] subjected to verbal and racial abuse” late last Thursday – before Massey was spat on and punched herself

Authorities said even hospital staff not directly involved incident were left “shaken and traumatised”.

One nurses’ union says abusive and challenging incidents are “common” - in line with data that shows a doubling of police callouts to health centres regarding harassment and threatening behaviour in the last four years.

Callouts for harassment and threats increased from 226 in 2018 to 424 last year.

Four people went to the hospital about 11.30pm, one with a badly cut arm, and two of them got “very aggressive, violent, verbally and physically abusive”, Hokianga Health chief executive Margareth Broodkoorn told the Herald.

Massey claimed one of the men punched a doctor and then a firefighter who came to intervene.

One of the men then spat at and punched Massey, leaving her with a severely blackened eye.

She said, “our beautiful, caring and tranquil Rawene Hospital was turned into what I can only describe as a scene from a horror movie”.

Massey said Broodkoorn had personally visited her and assured her it would not happen again.

Broodkoorn confirmed a patient, a staff member and a security officer were assaulted.

Broodkoorn said incidents like this were rare “but it does not minimise its seriousness and impact on our patients and staff”.

“I acknowledge the staff who were present at the time and for their dedication and care to look after our inpatients and residents, and then dealing with cleaning up after the incident,” she said.

The husband of one nurse at Rawene told the Herald his wife hadn’t been offered any support or counselling by hospital management following the terror and now felt unsafe at work.

Broodkoorn said the hospital was investigating the incident to figure out what needed to happen next.

“This incident review will include speaking with all those affected, as well as a full debrief with wider staff,” she said.

“I can assure...