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A nurse was attacked in Royal Adelaide Hospital Emergency Department, the nurses’ union said.
The employee was hit by a mentally ill patient on Thursday.
It is unclear how serious the nurse’s injuries are.
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SA Health said a security guard quickly intervened and the victim was offered support.
Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation SA chief executive Elizabeth Debers said other staff were left shaken by the incident.
“Even when the physical manifestation of these events heals, the psychological trauma can linger for a significant amount of time,” Debers said.
“The reality is that the emergency room is not a good place for someone suffering from mental illness … there is bright light, loud noise and they often stay for an extended period of time.”
South Australia the health system is collapsing due to a lack of hospital beds and staff to meet the demand.
SafeWork has issued an intervention order to the Royal Adelaide Hospital, directing it to improve workplace conditions which it says are putting staff at risk of psychological and physical harm.
It comes after an inspection of the emergency department, where inspectors found a lack of measures to reduce risks as a result of high demand.
The hospital has been given until July 9 to improve operating conditions or face a $250,000 fine.
All selectable operations were cancelled about a month ago due to a large number of staff absent due to illness.
Non-urgent overnight operations remain on hold.
Debers said the emergency room only has 69 beds, but currently has 84 patients.
“That’s too many people for free beds. Of those awaiting placement, nine of them are mentally ill,” she said.
The latest figures from SA Health said RAH emergency was ‘very busy’ with non-critical patients waiting seven hours to be seen.
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