SECURITY concerns for staff and visitors at John Hunter Hospital have prompted calls for the "immediate" installation of CCTV and patrols around the site's car parks.
Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery said since a hospital staff member's car was torched in the car park earlier this year, there had been further reports of cars being broken into and stolen from the campus.
Ms Hornery said staff had also raised concerns about feeling unsafe walking back to their vehicles late at night or in the early hours of the morning. She said none of the car parking areas had appropriate CCTV.
"Due to under-staffing, security personnel are unable to perform regular patrols of the car parks," Ms Hornery said. "When I wrote to the Minister earlier this year, the Minister advised me that an assessment conducted two years ago deemed the risk to staff was low, and therefore no further upgrades would be undertaken. Staff have continually reported issues with cars being broken into on a regular basis and cars being stolen form the car parks. Of greater concern are the reports from staff about feeling unsafe when leaving work and walking back to their cars after dark.
"A workforce that is made up predominantly of women should feel safe while at work, and that includes getting back to your car safely."
The state member for Wallsend has called for the immediate installation of CCTV in the staff car parks, as well as security patrols.
"It is important that our health staff and visitors to the hospital can leave work or the wards and return to their car without feeling unsafe, and I call on the Minister to listen to what those on the ground are saying and improve safety for these workers," she said.
