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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 24 Feb 2000

Vol. 515 No. 2

Written Answers. - Hospital Security.

Pat Rabbitte

Question:

74 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps, if any, being taken to ensure the safety of staff and patients in hospitals in view of increasing reports of assaults on staff in accident and emergency units and the murder of a patient in St. James's Hospital, Dublin 8; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5513/00]

Ivor Callely

Question:

158 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has satisfied himself with the safety of patients in hospitals in view of the recent tragic death in a Dublin hospital; his views on whether there is a need for a review of security precautions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5631/00]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 74 and 158 together.

Hospital security is generally provided 24 hours per day, 365 days per year on a contract basis by private security firms and the nature and extent of the security provided will vary depending on the security requirements at individual hospital sites. Both static and mobile security personnel are utilised together with a range of security devices which may include closed-circuit television cameras located at strategic areas on a hospital campus.
The incident referred to by the Deputies occurred at St James's on the evening of Monday, 7 February 2000 during normal visiting hours in a private room. The hospital's security staff apprehended the alleged assailant and detained him until the gardaí arrived. The alleged assailant is in the custody of gardaí and hospital authorities are assisting the gardaí in the matter.
The security of patients, staff and visitors in our hospitals is a matter of concern to all who are involved in the delivery of health care and every effort is made by management on individual hospital sites to ensure that adequate and efficient security personnel-systems are in place to ensure this. In this regard, all hospital security systems are reviewed by individual hospital authorities on an on-going basis and updated and strengthened where necessary.
In addition, to the above, the Eastern Health Board's accident and emergency steering group has established a committee to examine the number and level of violent incidents occurring at accident and emergency departments in the region. On completion of this examination measures aimed at reducing such incidents and increasing staff protection will be assessed and implemented where appropriate.
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