Security guard lifts lid on hospital violence
ATTACKS at work are 'part of the job' according to a security worker at Scunthorpe General Hospital.
Kevin Deakin, who has worked at Scunthorpe General Hospital for 18-months, has been kicked, verbally abused and grabbed by angry patients and public.
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Scunthorpe General Hospital security guard Kevin Deakin who has been attacked by visitors and patients.
Mr Deakin, a former army radio communications specialist, said the CCTV which is in operation throughout the hospital helps him feel safe and cuts down on the number of assaults.
"I have been physically attacked a few times but it's part of the job, I'm there to get between other members of staff and whoever is causing a problem and diffuse the situation," he said.
"I have felt threatened but I do have a military background and most of the time I feel safe at work.
"The whole hospital is covered by CCTV which I think helps cut down on the number of incidents and provides staff with extra protection."
Mr Deakin spoke out about his experiences as part of a month-long drive by the hospital to boost awareness of employee security.
The aim of Security Awareness Month is to prevent experiences like Mr Deakin's and make sure abuse is not 'part of the job' for any healthcare workers.
Security officers are on-site at the hospital 24/7 and the facility also has a local security management specialist (LSMS), Jug Johal, who said safety fears are a common concern for staff.
"It is something people come to me about, I am determined to keep our hospitals safe and secure for patients and staff– the NHS should be a safe place to work, not a place for antisocial and criminal activity," said Mr Johal.
"It is completely unacceptable staff suffer violence and abuse from those they are trying to help and action will be taken against offenders, we have prosecuted before and we will do again."
For the full story, buy today's Scunthorpe Telegraph.
2 Comments
by Farmer Palmer, Viz
Thursday, November 12 2009, 6:54PM
“Get orrrf moi laaaaaand!”
by Jen Barnes, Scunthorpe
Wednesday, November 11 2009, 11:02AM
“It is a terrible thing that we have to have security in the hospital in the first place. Having being a previous employee at the hospital having had previous encounters with the security staff, it is reassuring knowing they are around if needed and they have also offered to walk with myself and other staff to the car park at night so we are not alone. However I have noticed certain members of the staff do wind people up in a conflict situation which made things worse, this did not put my mind at ease a lot when dealing with a intoxicated patient. I do not know what sort of training the staff are given but I'm sure its not to wind patients up when they have been given verbal abuse, on this one occasion I was pleased there were to other security staff that came in, calmed and resolved the situation. I feel that certain security members can be very rude and abrupt which it does not surprise me that the officer has come under attack, I believe it was a matter of time! I apologise if this seems like I being rude, but I did feel like which one was going to kick off first, patient or staff.”