Officers from the Metropolitan Police will be visiting Bradford today (Wednesday) to see how a hospital scheme is helping to lower incidents of violence and aggression against NHS staff and enhance patient safety.
Since July 2013, West Yorkshire Police has had a PCSO based at Bradford Royal Infirmary between 8am and 11pm, seven days a week, to respond to any reports of criminal activity on the site.
The scheme initially began as a 12-month project and was made permanent the following July.
After its first full year of operation the hospital reported a reduction in assaults on its staff.
As well as providing reassurance for patients, staff and visitors in the form of a police presence, the PCSOs alert the hospital’s round-the-clock security team to any crime or security risks.
The PCSOs are based in the Accident & Emergency department’s police room and conduct joint, daily patrols with security officers, targeting areas with high reporting levels in an effort to stamp out any anti-social behaviour from patients and visitors.
Officers from the Met are hopeful of introducing a similar scheme in Paddington Hospital.
Inspector Tom Horner, who leads the Bradford West Area Neighbourhood Team, said:
"We're delighted to welcome the officers from the Met who have travelled up especially to see how the project works.
"It's important that people feel safe when visiting a hospital and we hope that having a PCSO on hand helps to give the staff, patients and visitors some reassurance, as well as acting as a deterrent against criminal activity.
"We're also very thankful to Bradford Teaching Hospitals for agreeing to take part in this partnership scheme with us and are pleased at how it has progressed."
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Security Management Specialist, Karon Snape, said:
"Bradford Royal Infirmary is one of the largest sites in the city and every year hundreds of thousands of people pass through our hospital, which is accessible 24/7, 365 days of the year, so it is not surprising that we get our fair share of incidents requiring police attention.
"The PCSO scheme, in addition to other anti-crime work, is a great example of highly effective partnership working. Staff and patients feel reassured by the PCSO presence. The scheme has been effective in reducing incidents and sends out a clear message that we will not tolerate crimes being committed at our hospitals and, where appropriate, will continue to work with the police to prosecute those who commit crimes against the Trust."
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