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Police could be based at Maelor’s A&E department

Published date: 17 October 2011 |
Published by: Andrew Boyd


 

PLANS for police to be based in a hospital’s accident and emergency department are still being considered.

It was revealed during the summer that Wrexham Maelor Hospital could have officers on patrol to help reduce violent incidents.

They would be supported by CCTV and voice recorders.

More than 1,500 incidents of violence and aggression were recorded at hospitals in the region last year, including more than 500 physical assaults.

A spokesman for the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board said it was continuing to look at the proposal.

He said: “We have not yet put this into place. The plans are still being considered.

“This is an ongoing process and we are examining what can be done.”

The health board has previously said it was in negotiations with North Wales Police over a new partnership model.

This would provide a police presence in A&E departments in its district hospitals at the Maelor, Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, Bodelwyddan and Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor.

CCTV cameras were installed at Ysbyty Gwynedd on a trial basis and a report to the health board stated they had been a success.

Voice recorders were also trialled at the hospital.

The report said they acted as a deterrent in warning would-be offenders their actions would be recorded.

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  1. Posted by: stopthepress! at 10:23 on 17 October 2011 Report

    What a disgrace that we have these problems in our hospitals. What is wrong with folk these days, disgraceful :(

  2. Posted by: mypoint at 12:08 on 17 October 2011 Report

    Staff and patients should not have to put up with this behaviour. Until society makes it very clear that such behaviour is pathetic and not something to be accepted nothing will change.

  3. Posted by: wrexhamafc at 12:59 on 17 October 2011 Report

    They should have police in all parts of the hospital. My wife is so fed up with the personal and physical abuse she takes from both patients and visitors as a nurse, she's taking early retirement to get away from it. After 37 years of service,enough is enough,her words.

  4. Posted by: eveningreader at 13:24 on 17 October 2011 Report

    I was in A&E on Saturday afternoon and there was a security guard there wearing a stab vest. Considering the ammount of people using the hospital etc I think there should be a police sub-station at the Maelor.

  5. Posted by: a cahill at 15:41 on 17 October 2011 Report

    No chance that will ever happen...bottom line is that poilce should be based in the community and serve all of that community without reservation.

  6. Posted by: sajm2281 at 20:35 on 17 October 2011 Report

    There are already police based at the Wrexham Maelor Hospital and they have been for 6 years. this article is misinformed and it is not the first time that this article has been printed in the Welsh Press. As a member of staff at the hospital I have witnessed the work that the Security and Police Officers do and have felt extremely secure in difficult situations with their presence there.

  7. Posted by: Pappalabooosh at 11:36 on 18 October 2011 Report

    Yes i agree, the amount of visitors under the influence of drugs, alchol etc and sometimes general bad behaviour can make A&E apotentially very dangerous place to be.On my last visit to that Dept i thought i saw a Police Office within A&E?

  8. Posted by: darrenjacks at 19:54 on 28 October 2011 Report

    I have now worked in Wrexham for 8 years and during this time there has police officers based at the hospital. Currently, PC Kev Godbeer & PC Richard Burgess work from the hospital. They provide a valuable service for the community within and outside the hospital and take on a lot of investigations and enquiries that would otherwise tie up other operational officers.

 

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