13 May 2019 
 
 
Siobhan Lehnhard 
Email: [FYI request #10113 email] 
 
 
 
Dear Siobhan 
 
Official Information Act Request   
 
We received your Official Information Request, on 15 April 2019 for the 
following: 
 
1.  The total number of assaults against nurses by members of 
the public from 2013-2018. 
How many assaults against nurses by members of the 
public, broken down by each year from 2013-2018. 
 
MidCentral District Health Board’s (MDHB) incident reporting system 
broadly categorises ‘violence’ as incidents that include either physical 
or non-physical violence. The definition of physical violence is where 
physical contact has been made from the patient to the staff member 
by means such as a punch, hit, kick, scratch or grab. Non-physical 
violence is defined as harassment, bullying, verbal abuse, threatening 
behaviour, aggression toward property only and inappropriate 
manner, conduct or behaviour. 
 
The figures reported in the table below is for all staff by calendar year. 
 
Year 
2013 
2014 
2015 
2016  2017  2018 
Number of physical or 
non-physical violence 
7 56 
98 
42 
63 
112 
incidents 
 
MDHB introduced a new electronic incident reporting system over 
2013 and there was a phased introduction which accounts for low 
numbers of reported incidents.   
 
MDHB takes assault or threatening behaviour against our staff 
extremely seriously. We have commenced a process of developing an 
 
Quality and Innovation 
MidCentral Health, Private Bag 11036, Palmerston North 4442 
Phone 06 350 8030 
 

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occupational violence strategy to address the rise in incidents in our 
hospital and health system overall.  We also encourage staff to report 
all incidents and the increase in incidents reported will in part reflect 
the proactive approach we are taking to encourage formal reporting 
across the workforce. 
 
MDHB incident reporting system notes the role of the person who 
records the incident in the database.  As this may or may not be the 
staff member directly involved, it is unable to report how many 
assaults were against nurses.  To obtain this information would 
require us to review all incidents and given the number involved this 
would require substantial research.  As such, we decline this part of 
our request in accordance with section 18(e) of the Official 
Information Act.   
 
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of 
our decision. Information about how to make a complaint is available at 
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602. 
 
If you wish to discuss this decision with us, please feel free to contact me. 
 
Please note that this response, or an edited version of this response, may be 
published on the MidCentral DHB website ten working days after your 
receipt of this response. 
 
 
Yours sincerely 
 
 
 
Judith Catherwood 
General Manager 
Quality & Innovation 

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