Hospital to get its own PC in bid to prevent attacks

Oct 4 2007 by Alan Weston, Liverpool Daily Post

A MERSEYSIDE hospital is to get its own police officer to deter outbreaks of violence and attacks on staff.

The “high visibility” officer will be on duty during weekend nights at Aintree hospital’s A&E department in a bid to make patients and staff feel safer.

The hospital had 97 reported cases of assaults in the year 2006/7, 16 of which originated from A&E.

Aintree was the first hospital in the UK to have special constables recruited from among its own staff, and the new scheme is an extension of the partnership between the NHS Foundation Trust and Merseyside police.

The police officer will be on duty from 8pm to 3am on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Neighbourhood Inspector Paul Mann said: “This scheme is a great opportunity for my officers to build relationships with the local community, a key part of which is the hospital, and raise the profile of the force locally.

“The neighbourhood officers who will take on these duties will be dedicated to working at the hospital, where they will be accessible to the public, and will be able to provide support, help and guidance for the staff.

“I feel sure the very presence of a police officer will deter those who may be intent on violence, and it will enable us to deal swiftly with anyone else who isn’t deterred.

“It is important for those who visit the hospital to know that my staff and the hospital staff won’t tolerate abuse or violence in an around the hospital. Anyone who does act in this way will be dealt with robustly.”

Terry Sweeney, director of estates and facilities at Aintree University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “The trust was the first in the UK to have special police constables recruited from its staff and this latest investment by the trust reinforces the co-operation between the trust and Merseyside police for the benefit of patients, staff and visitors.”

Aintree is the latest Merseyside hospital to have its own dedicated police officer. There is already a permanent police presence at the Royal Liverpool hospital.

Last year, 714 nurses reported they had been attacked at the region’s hospitals.

Hospital trusts say a regionwide “zero tolerance” clampdown on such attacks has increased the number of people prosecuted for attacking staff.

OPINION: PAGE 10

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