A FULL time police presence has been launched at Ipswich Hospital today.Two Community Police Officers will be based on site to deal with any incidents occurring.
A FULL time police presence has been launched at Ipswich Hospital today.
Two Community Police Officers will be based on site to deal with any incidents occurring.
From now on PCs Caroline Sayer and Jane Corbett will be patrolling the site to make it a safer place for both hospital staff and patients.
Today Paul Forden, chief executive of the Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust said: "We are delighted to welcome Caroline and Jane to the Trust and are sure that having a full time police presence on site will bring many benefits for staff, patients and visitors.
"Their presence will be reassuring to the thousands of people who come to the hospital everyday and help us make it an even safer place."
The hospital linked up with Suffolk police to provide the extra security.
Inspector Andy Solomon who oversees the policing of East Ipswich said:
"This is an exciting new initiative and the PCs will be working the equivalent of a full time officer to ensure Ipswich Hospital has a high visibility police presence.
"Regular patrols will take place round the hospital site which is an extremely busy area giving reassurance to staff, patients and visitors as well as dealing with incidents that occur while they are on duty."
Both officers will also hold regular advise centres in the hospital.
The move to have police officers at the Heath Road site came after a security risk assessment and a visit by the Health and Safety Executive last year.
It was highlighted that the Hospital Trust needed to develop a more effective means of managing violence and aggression.
A dedicated security group was set up to look into ways of improving security such as extra CCTV cameras.
More training was also to be given to staff at all different levels from diffusing situations to restraining patients for their own safety and the safety of those around them.
n. What do you think about the need for more security at the hospital? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or have your say on the Evening Star forum at www.eveningstar.co.uk.
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