Security training begins today for more than a thousand Health New Zealand frontline staff

It's being provided through 31-million dollars allocated in last year's Budget to ensure safety in emergency departments -- including increased security capacity for eight high-priority EDs, and surge capacity in busy periods for all hospitals. .

Health Minister Shane Reti says training for security teams and clinical staff will focus on de-escalation and safe restraint.

With the first programmes kicking off today, Reti says high-priority EDs will all be fully trained by May.