Sinn Féin Councillor Debbie McCole has called for a decision to reduce security cover at the A&E Department of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, to be reversed.
The move follows the recent revelation that security at the department would be limited from midnight to 12 noon.
In a reply to Cllr McCole’s concerns, hospital management stated that a “24 hour, 7 day a week” security presence is maintained within the Emergency Department.
However, Cllr McCole questioned this, stating that overall hospital security has been reduced. This means that if an incident occurs in A&E, security staff would need to be bleeped, and may be elsewhere on the hospital grounds.
Management explained that an additional security officer had been temporarily assigned to the Emergency Department following an increase in disruptive behaviour over the Christmas period.
This temporary measure was due to cease in August.
“I don’t understand how the decision to reduce cover in the A&E Department was arrived at given that there have been a number of assaults on staff within the past week and countless anecdotal evidence of increased incidents and anti-social behaviour,” Cllr McCole said. “The security situation has worsened, not improved since Christmas.”
Cllr McCole is now reiterating her call for the decision to be reversed, arguing that security should, in fact, be increased for the safety of staff, patients, and visitors.
