HSE ‘must improve hospital security arrangements’

AS violence in Ireland’s hospitals worsens medical consultants are insisting the Health Service Executive (HSE) improve security arrangements in all hospitals.

Irish Hospital Consultants’ Association (IHCA) secretary general Finbarr Fitzpatrick said a security review conducted for the association following an incident at St Patrick’s Hospital in Dublin found half of the 24 panic buttons were not working.

Consultants attending the IHCA’s annual conference in Mullingar at the weekend stressed that violence had increased in all hospitals.