MK Hospital News: New On-Site Police Officer and Strengthened Security Team

28th August 2008

A new dedicated on-site Police Officer, Gordon Walker, has joined Milton Keynes Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. The police presence is designed to reassure staff, visitors and patients that safety is the Trust’s top priority.

The key focus of the A&E based uniformed Police Officer post, jointly funded by the hospital and Thames Valley Police, is the prevention and investigation of crime.

The Trust aims to cut crime through prevention, and Gordon’s role focuses offering advice to staff and patients on policing issues and crime prevention. His role involves providing a security service in and around the hospital to protect patients, visitors and staff.

The Police Officer is also responsible for ensuring that staff across the Trust follow best practice in security procedures.

The Trust continues to work with the local police force to back up its on-site security team to keep crime levels down.

Alan Brooks, who served as the dedicated Police Officer at Milton Keynes Hospital NHS Foundation Trust for over four and a half years, was recently appointed to the post of Security and Car Parking Manager.

Alan manages a team of staff with security duties who patrol the site. The in-house security staff are responsible for the initial assessment of any incident when a Police Officer is not on-site. The security team is trained in the use of CCTV.

Bob Heavisides, Director of Facilities at Milton Keynes Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said:

The Trust warmly welcomes Gordon to his new post. Milton Keynes Hospital has over 3,000 members of staff and treats or diagnoses around 400,000 patients each year. A dedicated Police Officer reduces crime, helps to foster a good relationship between the Police and the Trust, and helps the reporting and follow-up of crime.

We have also been fortunate to secure the services of Alan Brooks, a former and experienced Police Officer, to help us reinforce the high level of security on the Trust site.

The 24-hour security cover on the Trust’s site is designed to help reduce fear of crime and reassure local people and staff that the hospital is as safe and crime-free as possible.

The Trust encourages the public and staff to report any form of crime.

Milton Keynes Hospital works closely with the Counter Fraud and Security Management Service, which has responsibility for all policy and operational matters relating to the prevention, detection and investigation of fraud and corruption and the management of security in the National Health Service.

Milton Keynes Hospitals Information