Police patrols to improve safety at hospitals

POLICE PATROLS were last night due to start around the island’s general hospitals as part of measures to improve hospital security.

The decision was made during a meeting at the Health Ministry to discuss how best to protect hospital staff after a patient stabbed a nurse with surgical scissors when he was brought in for stitches last weekend. The man is believed to have been under the influence of drugs at the time of the attack.

Yesterday’s meeting included Justice Minister Sophoclis Sophocleous, police and the fire services.

Health Minister Kostas Kadis said: “As of tonight, frequent patrols will be carried out at sensitive points around the hospitals.”

Sophocleous said the patrols would focus mainly around the Accident and Emergency departments and take place during “strange, early hours”.

Kadis said emphasis would also be given to ambulances so as to limit ambulance drivers and nurses’ exposure to danger when possibly transporting drug addicts.

The move was welcomed by Nurses’ Association president George Flourentzos who said for the first time something was being done to solve a chronic problem deplored by hospitals.

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