Marymount becomes latest Cork hospital to join neighbourhood watch scheme for medical facilities

It joins Cork University Hospital, Bon Secours Hospital and Mercy University Hospital in the Hospital Watch scheme

(Left to right) Garda Ola Leahy, Garda liaison officer; Dr Sarah McCloskey, CEO of Marymount University Hospital and Hospice, Superintendent Finbarr O’Sullivan and Danielle Broe, director of nursing at Marymount University Hospital and Hospice at the launch of the crime prevention initiative at the hospital today. Photo: by Gerard McCarthy

A fourth Cork City hospital has signed up to a neighbourhood watch scheme for hospitals.

Marymount University Hospital is the latest to join other Cork City garda division hospitals Cork University Hospital, Bon Secours Hospital and Mercy University Hospital. They are among more than 30 hospitals that have joined the scheme since 2005.

A garda spokesperson said: “Similar to the residential Neighbourhood Watch scheme, Hospital Watch operates as a partnership between An Garda Síochána in Togher Cork City, Marymount University Hospital and Hospice, staff, patients and visitors with the aim of preventing crime within the hospital setting.

“The initiative embodies the principles of partnership, problem solving, engagement and crime prevention and ensuring that hospital staff, patients and visitors are safe.” 

By engaging in the Hospital Watch Programme, gardaí say they aim to “prevent crime and the fear of crime”.

Superintendent Finbarr O’Sullivan said: "The launch of Hospital Watch at Marymount University Hospital will help keep hospital staff and patients safe.

“Gardaí will engage with hospital staff as well as service users to promote crime prevention and awareness as well as facilitate problem solving.” 

Marymount chief executive Dr Sarah McCloskey said: "At Marymount University Hospital and Hospice, we are hugely committed to the safety and well-being of our staff, volunteers, patients, residents and families.

What's your view on this issue?

You can tell us here

“We are dedicated to the provision of optimum care, and safety is fundamental to this. Our Hospital Watch programme has been hugely welcomed by the Marymount team and is already proving to be hugely beneficial.

“We are enormously grateful to our colleagues in An Garda Síochána.” 

It is not known if the HSE or gardaí have reviewed the success of the scheme by comparing the number of crimes against staff and patients in hospitals in the scheme since 2005, as opposed to the hospitals that are not.

A HSE spokesperson said: “We're seeking to ascertain if there has been any research on the impact of Hospital Watch on a national level."

Gardai were also asked if they have conducted studies to see if the number of assaults and other crimes against staff/patients at HSE hospitals are lower in hospitals that are part of the scheme than hospitals that aren't.

The Irish Examiner reported in August that HSE staff suffered over 25,700 physical, sexual, or verbal assaults in just over four years.