KILDARE: Planning to prevent crime in Naas Hospital
A crime prevention initiative has been relaunched in Naas General Hospital.
Hospital Watch, as it’s known, is similar to a Neighbourhood Watch scheme and is a partnership between the gardaí, the HSE, patients, staff and visitors with the aim of preventing crime within the hospital setting.
Hospital manager Kieran McDonald said: “As we move through winter and the dark evenings, it is essential that we do what we can to ensure our campus is a safe space for all users. The hospital is not just that but a community with over 1,000 staff across many different disciplines, in-patients, out-patients and day patients - not to mention the many visitors who come through our doors every day.”
He added the hospital is committed to the programme which is supported throughout the facility.
A group has been set up within the hospital to work with gardaí in Naas.
Anne Murphy, director of nursing, said plans are underway to make the hospital crime free for all colleagues and patients. “We are delighted to further strengthen our community engagement and partner with An Garda Síochána on this important work.”
Gda Deirdre Davoren said the programme embodies the principles of partnership, problem solving, engagement and crime prevention. It aims to prevent crime, particularly the fear of crime; promote crime prevention awareness and to facilitate engagement, partnership, and problem solving with hospital staff.