Adelaide’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital is facing criticism following the release of a video that shows a man, reliant on a walking frame, being forcibly removed from the premises by security staff. The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday and has raised concerns about patient treatment and care standards within the hospital.
Witnesses reported that security personnel carried the man outside and abandoned him with his walking frame near Woodville Road, neglecting to assist him properly. “They didn’t sit him up on his walker or anything like that,” lamented one witness, who described the situation as disturbing given the hospital’s responsibilities.
The witness recounted seeing the elderly man in the emergency department earlier, struggling to communicate due to slurred speech and clearly needing his walker for mobility. “It was very obvious he couldn’t walk without his walker,” she stated, raising questions about the appropriateness of the hospital’s response.
According to the hospital’s management, the man had initially been invited into the emergency department after appearing distressed in the ambulance bay. However, he was subsequently asked to leave when his behaviour was deemed “anti-social.” Health Minister Chris Picton mentioned that security staff are trained to assess situations and are expected to use the least amount of force necessary to ensure safety.
The hospital declined to comment on whether the level of force used was appropriate but noted in a statement that the man was “safely” removed by security. It has been reported that the man, who is believed to be homeless, returned to the emergency department later but was not admitted as a patient.
The witness expressed her discontent with the situation, declaring, “If that had happened to one of my family members, I could promise you I wouldn’t be staying quiet about it.” She emphasised that the treatment observed did not align with proper care standards, leaving her unsure of how to effectively address such misconduct in the healthcare setting.
This incident has sparked a broader conversation about the treatment of vulnerable individuals in medical facilities, alongside calls for improved protocols to ensure dignity and respect for all patients, particularly those who are homeless or in distress.