From 10.30am to 11.30am, they gathered in front of the hospital, many carrying placards, to highlight their concerns over security.

Health Services Union organiser for Newcastle and Mid-North Coast Michael Kearns said the state government response to date was "simply not good enough".

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"The NSW government continues to ignore workers' call to ensure safe work places as well as [their call] for hospitals to again become safe havens for patients and their families," he said.

"We have seen in recent years a significant rise in aggression and violence in hospitals across the Hunter, including at Maitland hospital where our members have been punched, spat at, and kicked.

"We've seen stabbings and shootings in hospitals across NSW and our members are standing up today in protest against the government's non action.

"They are sick and tired of being punching bags.

"At the end of the day, all the members want is a safe working environment and to be able to come to work, be resourced properly and go home at the end of their shift knowing they won't be injured.

"They are concerned they are going to be injured every single shift.

"That's a concern we want the government to consider but they are ignoring it and sitting on their hands waiting for a report."

Union members from a range of departments including cleaning, admin, pathology and security were united in their protest.

Skeleton staff remained at work to care for patients during the strike.

On the scene, the Mercury was told anecdotally that local concern stemmed from a lack of full time security around the clock and a need for dedicated mental health security.

They added that in the case of a serious situation, the night security could be unavailable to monitor the hospital for hours at a time while they attended to the issue at hand, leaving the facility unprotected.

Concern was amplified, they said, when Maitland's expanding population was taken into consideration and the upcoming move to the new hospital.

They would like to see the security level increased before it opens.

A NSW Health spokesperson said the department remained committed to addressing security issues with its workforce.

"NSW Health has agreed that if the HSU complies with the agreement reached tonight, a trial of new security measures will proceed at a designated Local Health District site," the spokesperson said.

"The NSW Government appointed the Honourable Peter Anderson AM to review security in NSW hospitals and to look for any improvements that can be made to practices to ensure staff, patients and visitors are further protected.

"In February 2019, Mr Anderson released an Interim Report and action on those recommendations is already underway.

"Across NSW, $19 million has been invested to improve security in emergency departments at public hospitals, upgrading CCTV systems, improving access controls between public and staff areas and installing remote locking to public access doors.

"In addition, more than $5 million has been invested to upgrade duress alarms for staff in emergency departments, which they are mandated to wear while on duty."

Maitland hospital union members are planning to continue their campaign locally in conjunction with the Health Services Union until they receive the level of security they are seeking.

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