Increased security in place at Royal Oldham Hospital as doctor is carjacked at knifepoint

Royal Oldham Hospital

Staff at The Royal Oldham hospital are being urged to walk to their cars in pairs after a spate of robberies in the last few weeks.

Three workers at the hospital have been attacked in the staff carparks in recent weeks, including a female doctor being carjacked at knifepoint after her shift on Saturday (16 March).

Police and hospital management have stepped up patrols in the surrounding carparks and security guards are offering to escort workers to their cars.

Other advice issued to the staff includes, not to wear headphones and to stick to ‘well lit areas’ when leaving the hospital.

Tony Carter, group head of security at The Royal Oldham Hospital said: “Staff safety and the safety of our patients and visitors is our priority, and we are working with the police assisting their enquiries.

"In order to ensure that our staff remain safe we have increased our security presence and personnel on The Royal Oldham Hospital site and we are now providing an additional dedicated security presence on the staff car parks and across the site between 4pm and midnight.

"The police are taking this seriously and have also increased their patrols of the Oldham hospital site.

"Staff who work night shifts are being offered security escorts where requested. We are monitoring our CCTV footage and anybody with information about the crimes should contact the police directly. We are also encouraging staff to be more vigilant and report any suspicious behaviour to the Trust security team so they can investigate.

"We are urging staff to be careful, especially at night time, and keep to well lit areas, to stay alert and not to wear headphones when walking. Where possible, if it is late or dark, staff should walk together in pairs. We are also advising staff that once inside their car they should lock the doors.”