RNSH rapid response to Bondi shooting The violent shootings at Bondi Beach on 14 December, which claimed 15 lives and injured around 40 people during a Hanukkah celebration, marked one of the most devastating acts of antisemitic violence in Australia.
staff,” said Geoff. Five medical teams were established in the ED, radiology ensured CT scanners were available, and the Red Cross Blood Bank enacted its disaster plan. Within half an hour, the first patient arrived with a gunshot wound and was taken directly to theatre after assessment and imaging. A second patient followed shortly after, before further casualties were diverted to other hospitals. Despite the major incident response, the ED continued managing routine emergencies, including an emergency caesarean section and another major trauma case. “I’m extremely proud of our staff,” said Geoff. “The selflessness shown by people who came in on their day off to help others was extraordinary.” RNSH Emergency Nurse Manager Claire Longo also came in on her day off to assist. “When we are put to the test, our response reflects the strength of our systems, training and teamwork,” she said. In the days following the incident, the ED led debriefs and welfare checks for staff involved. Four patients were admitted to the Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit. ICU nurses, medical staff and allied health teams delivered continuous monitoring and coordinated specialist care over an extended period. NSLHD Chief Executive Anthony Schembri thanked staff for their response. “Our response demonstrated a system able to scale quickly under pressure and the commitment of our people,” he said.
As the incident unfolded, Royal North Shore Hospital clinicians responded swiftly, both at the scene and in the emergency department (ED), demonstrating professionalism and calm under extreme pressure. RNSH Clinical Nurse Specialist in Trauma Ruby Hartley was at Bronte Beach when she heard gunshots and learned there was an active shooter at Bondi. She arrived around ten minutes after the shooting had stopped and began helping medically manage victims, while communicating with the RNSH ED and supporting NSW Ambulance retrieval teams with blood products and medications. Across the city, RNSH emergency and trauma staff were receiving reports of a major incident. Geoff Healy, Director of Trauma, was alerted while returning home from a shift and immediately headed back to the hospital, mobilising specialists as information rapidly flowed in. By the time he arrived, the ED had activated a code brown major, signalling a mass casualty incident. Trauma specialists, emergency physicians, surgeons, anaesthetists and ICU staff arrived, many voluntarily or staying beyond their rostered shifts. “We were told there were seven red-label patients coming in, so we opened four operating theatres and called in additional
Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC, Governor of New South Wales (front row, third from left) visited the RNSH Emergency staff who cared for victims of the Bondi attack
The Governor (middle, fifth from right) also visited ICU staff involved in the Bondi response
NSLHDNEWS | ISSUE 1| 30 JANUARY 2026
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