STAFF at a Wrexham hospital say not enough is being done as safety concerns leave them feeling ‘distressed’ and ‘unsafe’.

A staff member at the Wrexham Maelor hospital, who did not wish to be named, said the recent spate of incidents at the car park is part of an ongoing issue regarding safety and security.

Social media posts were shared regarding recent incidents in which a woman was allegedly attacked on her way back to her car – parked at the hospital car park.

The staff member told the Leader that they believe these recent incidents are an escalation of the past few years.

The Leader:

Wrexham Maelor Hospital car park

They said: “In June 2019 about 16 members of staff had their cars vandalised whilst on duty.

“There’s no security anymore. No security, no lighting, no CCTV and no patrols and we have all requested more.

“They say they take matters seriously and promised more patrols but last year members of staff were approached by homeless people.

“Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board generated an email to all staff saying they were aware of it and their advice was to ring the police. But if these people grab your mobile phone, you can’t do that.

“It’s all well and good ringing the police but it is a security issue. They are separate issues but it’s all security at the end of the day. I think it’s continued to escalate.

“Staff are all really quite anxious especially now as it’s still dark outside of a morning and evening and you are going back to your car in darkness. Not enough is being done.

The Leader:

“Hundreds of pounds worth of damage has been done to cars over the past few years. It’s been awful and distressing.”

It's not just staff members that have expressed their concerns over safety, as members of the public also share their worries after ongoing incidents near the hospital.

Chris Gash - of CAG Housing and Development - said tools were stolen from his work truck not too far from the hospital car park.

He said: “Three of my guys were dropping off in Wrexham and were coming back out by the Morrisons and pulled up at the lights. Three men in balaclavas got out of their car and grabbed the still saw from the back of our pick-up and then drove off.

“Nothing is safe these days but there’s not a lot you can do. You don’t anticipate someone will stop at the traffic lights especially while it’s still light out.

The Leader:

Wrexham Maelor Hospital

“We’ve heard about the recent incidents around the Maelor and whether it’s all interlinked I wouldn’t know but there has been a lot going on around the area which isn’t very nice.

“I think Wrexham has gone down hill so much in the last year. I remember as a lad, and I’m nearly 50 now, it was a lot safer, there was no risk at all but now it’s not safe. You don’t want your children hanging around.

“It’s a shame the society we live in today but what can you do about it. It’s awful, it may only be a saw it can be replaced, and lives can’t be but it’s still a horrible thing to go through. It’s a horrible world we live in.”

A spokesman from Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board said with the help of North Wales Police, recent incidents have been ‘resolved’.

They added: “We are aware of a number of reported incidents and recognise how worrying this must be for staff and visitors to the hospital.

“We have been working closely with our Health and Safety team and North Wales Police to introduce a number of interim measures, including increased police patrols, until a longer term solution is available.”