Update (Thursday, 1pm):
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The NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association (NSWNMA) supports today's efforts by Health Services Union NSW members to raise awareness of this insidious problem occurring statewide.
NSWNMA acting general secretary Judith Kiejda said current violence prevention measures in hospitals and other health settings were clearly not a deterrent and it was time for the government to act.
"It's not acceptable for frontline nurses and midwives, or any health worker for that matter, to be threatened at work," said Ms Kiejda.
"It's not normal to go into work expecting to be assaulted, yet that is what's happening. Violent and aggressive behaviour has become so frequent that it has become normalised, which is not okay."
Ms Kiejda said "a systemic issue across the entire health sector - public, private, aged care, mental health and community health workers are all being impacted".
"We've participated in reviews and roundtables, and made submission after submission, yet the problems still exist," she said.
"We appreciate it is a complex issue and therefore requires a broad approach, but there are steps that could already be implemented to help tackle the problems and also address the concerns of workers.
"Increasing hospital security is only one element. We believe understaffing is a major contributing factor and it requires urgent attention.
"Improved staff to patient ratios would definitely help to alleviate some of the pressures, yet we're in a constant battle over the bare minimum of staffing."
The NSWNMA will be working with local branches on statewide actions during national SafeWork month in October to continue the public campaign against violence and aggression.
Ms Kiejda said the NSWNMA would continue to raise concerns directly with the Health Minister and the NSW Ministry of Health on the issue.
Update (Thursday, 12.30pm):
NSW Health is questioning the media's reporting suggesting that union action is taking place today.
However a Health Services Union (HSU) spokesman said 60 to 100 staff from Bowral, Campbelltown, Camden and Liverpool hospitals would meet at Campbelltown Hospital this afternoon.
The spokesman said while staff would meet for an hour to discuss security concerns, the strike could go for up to four hours.
In a statement released to the media on Wednesday night, NSW Health denied union action would take place.
"NSW Health would like to reassure the public that media reports suggesting some 22,000 workers will stop work on Thursday are not accurate," the statement said.
HSU representative Lee Papas said union members were "sick and tired of being hurt on the job".
"Often when a person is hurt they cannot return to work for a number of months and sometimes they cannot return at all," Mr Papas said
"We've had guns fired, knives pulled, cars thrown and nurses being spat at - and it is just getting worse."
Mr Papas said today's protest was just the start of more industrial action to come.
"This is just the launch of this campaign, we will have many more days of this to come," he said.
"We don't want any more health workers else to become a statistic."
Wollondilly MP Nathaniel Smith said he was aware of the strikes and had discussed the matter with Health Minister Brad Hazzard.
"The safety of workers across NSW is a priority for the NSW Government," Mr Smith said.
"The Health Minister has acknowledged there are continuing concerns about security issues in our hospitals, which is why a review has been implemented and headed by a former Labor Police and Health Minister Peter Anderson.
"Mr Anderson is due to submit a final report for the Government's consideration at the end of 2019."
Mr Smith said the NSW Government had been working with the HSU to look at options to ensure workers safety.
"Discussion over the last week has seen the proposed industrial action of four hours reduced to an hour today, solely to allow members to discuss their concerns and progress around security which were agreed on in the IRC," he said.
A NSW Health spokesperson said the department was "committed to addressing security issues with its workforce and ensuring that our hospitals are safe".
"Following a further hearing in the Industrial Relations Commission this evening, HSU has given assurances it will take no longer than one hour to report back the outcome of the proceedings in the Commission to its members.
"Members engaging in industrial action will be required to do so in compliance with the legislation.
"The HSU has agreed that any industrial action will not compromise patient care."
NSW health minister Brad Hazzard's office was contacted for comment.
Update (Wednesday, 5.30pm):
A strike involving more than 22,000 HSU members across NSW will proceed tomorrow.
The HSU said the NSW Ministry of Health failed to resolve the union's concerns about the "security crisis engulfing NSW hospitals".
At this stage the Ministry has offered a trial of extra security officers at Wyong and Gosford hospitals.
A HSU spokesman said this was "a welcome first step" and would be communicated to members across the state at hospital rallies tomorrow.
However, action will proceed in every major hospital across NSW.
Paramedics will also continue their revenue strike on the NSW Government, declining to collect billing details for patients. Emergency services will not be affected.
"In the last three years, hospital workers have been stabbed, shot, punched, bitten and abused. Hospital workers are sick of being treated as punching bags," HSU NSW Secretary Gerard Hayes said.
"There are now more than 40 assaults in NSW hospitals each month. We are living through a hospital security crisis. Yet the Ministry of Health refuses to take anything more than baby steps.
"Our strike is an unfortunate but necessary last resort. We have argued, lobbied and advocated for change for years, but our pleas continue to fall on deaf ears.
"We are taking every precaution possible to prevent any impact on public health. Fundamentally, this strike is about improving public safety and restoring confidence in the security of our hospitals."
Earlier (Wednesday, 3.30pm):
Bowral and District Hospital staff will strike on Thursday over safety concerns.
They will join more than 22,000 of their fellow Health Services Union (HSU) members at public hospitals across the state.
This will include wardspersons, security officers, kitchen staff, cleaners and allied health professionals, including staff in Emergency Departments.
HSU NSW Secretary Gerard Hayes said there were now almost 40 assaults in hospitals each month, according to the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research.
"The HSU has consistently sought 250 extra security guards with extra constable powers to deal with the crisis. However these pleas have fallen on deaf ears," Mr Hayes said.
"Arrangements will be made to ensure patients are not put at risk, and to ensure urgent operations and emergency responses are not affected."
Mr Hayes said his members were "sick of being treated as punching bags".
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"We do not take this strike action lightly, it really is a last resort," he said.
"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. We need 250 extra security officers with special constable powers and we need them now."
