Two guards needed for patient safety, says resident

A CONCERNED Wonthaggi resident has raised questions about a reduction in security guards at Bass Coast Health (BCH). 

According to a letter, sent anonymously to the Sentinel-Times by the resident, it stated BCH is operating with one security guard each shift instead of two. 

The letter highlighted that the many responsibilities of security guards were difficult to fulfill with just one guard per shift. 

“For example, if you only have one guard on and you have a very challenging patient/visitor at theentrance and the one guard that is on for that shift is trying to defuse the situation, and then the ambulance brings in a patient to ED that is in a drug infused state or has mental illness and needs forceful restraining to protect themselves and everyone else in the ED and the nursing staff and ambulance officers need extra help, how is one security guard going to help both situations,” the letter states.

However, according to Shaun Brooks, BCH Acting CEO, they temporarily expanded the security presence at Wonthaggi Hospital to two guards only in November 2022, after previously operating with just one guard for four years.

“The temporary increase in security to two guards was to help with the transition to the new Wonthaggi Hospital, provide extra support through the busy summer period and to assist members of the public with wayfinding within the new hospital,” he said. 

“We have reverted to one security guard to return to business as usual as the new hospital has now been open for more than three months, and we have improved signage and social media coverage informing members of the public where to go around the new hospital. 

“However, we still value the support of a security guard onsite 24/7 to help with our response to escorts, patrols, some wayfinding for visitors, incident response and securing the hospital site after hours.”