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SA Medical Association urges private hospitals to improve security

The South African Medical Association (SAMA) has urged private hospitals to pay to improve safety measures to protect the lives of patients and staff following security breaches at private hospitals in Durban over the past two months, reports The Sunday Tribune.

Staff, security personnel and patients are undergoing trauma counselling after gunmen struck at St Augustine’s Hospital in the early hours of Wednesday 4 September, injuring a security guard and a member of staff, write Wendy Jasson da Costa and Lethu Nxumalo.

Sama chairperson Dr Angelique Coetzee said CCTV cameras, panic buttons, photo identification and scanners to prevent anyone from entering with weapons were just a few of the measures which would improve hospital security.

“I know it will cost money but patients are vulnerable when they are lying in bed,” said Coetzee, the Sunday Tribunereported.

She said cameras in parking areas and proper identification for car guards were important to ease the minds of medical staff leaving work late at night.

Full report on the Sunday Tribune site – Subscription only

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