Late Night Safety Concerns when hospital hub opens

by Kate Hughes,  13 May 2011

Nurses and supporting staff at Saint John of God Murdoch are concerned for their safety and access to the workplace once the largest southern hospital hub opens in 2014.

Fiona Stanley Hospital, located adjacent to major private hospital Saint John of God, is the largest building infrastructure project ever undertaken by the state that will offer  public health care services to communities south of the river and across the state.

Along with the building of Fiona Stanley, Saint John of God will undergo redevelopment later this year, increasing traffic within the immediate area and in turn place more stress on parking and public transport.

“It’s hard to get a car park now, let alone what is likely to happen after next door opens with the influx of people movement in this area,” says Mary Murray, a registered nurse at Saint John of God.

“Despite the fact there is good access to the railway station, the problem with many shift workers is the safety concern moving to and from train stations at both ends.

“There aren’t as many trains running on Saturday and Sunday and nurses don’t want to finish a late shift to then have to walk alone and wait around stations so it’s a question of whether the public transport can accommodate our needs.”

Both hospital developments will vastly increase the amount of people in the area, attracting thousands more staff, patients, visitors and delivery services that raise concern over security risks.

“Public hospitals bring a slightly different cliental which brings its own inherent risks such as security for staff,” says Saint John of God Occupational Health and Safety Co-ordinator, Shauna Howarth.

“Saint John of God is a very open campus and has no isolation boundaries allowing anyone to walk onto site so this is probably going to have to change in the near future.

“It’s very likely that a fence will be put up surrounding the hospital, there will need to be security activated boom gates, more lighting and an extensive staff of security officers to add to the security around Murdoch once this area becomes one of the busiest in Perth.”

Saint John of God Occupational Health and Safety have employed an external consultant to review the security of the campus which involves a risk assessment of the environment and a detailed list of actions that work towards eliminating security risks.