by Anesta Henry
Scores of patients who turned up at the St Philip Polyclinic yesterday seeking medical attention were told that the Six Roads facility was closed as traumatised staff struggled to come to grips with a man wielding a knife at a nurse earlier this week.
The incident resulted in workers calling for improved security measures.
General secretary of Unity Workers’ Union, Caswell Franklyn, made it clear the nurses in his union would be staying off the job until the clinic was equipped with metal detectors and additional security guards.
Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Health and Wellness, communications consultant Joy Ann Haigh, of Haigh Communications, gave the assurance that when the clinic reopens next week, patients will be greeted by additional security officers from a private firm.
“We will send out the communication that at this polyclinic as well as others moving forward you will see a level of heightened security for the safety of not only the staff of the polyclinics, but also the patients who are coming here to seek medical attention.
“It is important that they are feeling safe in this environment. Unfortunately, we are living in different times and . . . adjustments would have to be made to the security levels at these institutions,” Haigh said. (AH)
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