MORE the 2800 health workers will soon go on strike in the region as union rails against assaults on employees in public hospitals.
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The Health Services Union's (HSU) members, some 22,000 across NSW, will go on strike for four hours on August 1 in response to workers being "shot, stabbed, punched, bitten and spat upon".
This strike action will include 2,839 members across the Hunter New England Local Health District.
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The union has called on the government to employ "250 extra security officers with special constable powers" to improve safety.
"Our members are sick of being treated as punching bags," HSU secretary Gerard Hayes said.
"We do not take this strike action lightly, it really is a last resort.
"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.
"Enough is enough. We are sick of the reviews and talkfests."
Hunter New England Health declined to comment on the strike action.
NSW health minister Brad Hazzard told Australian Community Media the government heard the members' concerns, but action would take time.
"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."
Mr Hazzard said the government had already made efforts to improve workplace safety in hospitals, including a $19 million increasing security in emergency departments of hospitals to install measures including portable alarms for staff.
The NSW Nurses and Midwives Association offered in principle support to the HSU members (paramedics, cleaners, hospital administration, security guards and other allied health workers) who have voted to take protected industrial action on August 1.
However, rostered nurses and midwives will remain at the beside in hospitals and other health settings across the state.