Mount Carmel Hospital’s security arrangements are not fit for purpose - NAO

Mount Carmel Hospital’s security arrangements are not fit for purpose, a National Audit Office (NAO) report on the institution has found, noting that its officers entered and existed, and toured the facility with ease, despite not holding a visitor’s badge or being checked for irregular items upon entry.

Last February, a teenage patient who had escaped from the facility was found dead two days later, even though his doctor had recommended he be watched constantly; while in March 2016, a British patient escaped from the facility after jumping over a wall. He was never seen again.

Currently, MCH’s security staff is comprised of 15 members. These are further assisted by a police officer stationed at the hospital’s main gate. The forensic units are an extension of the Corradino Correctional Facility and have a security detail provided by the institution.

Members of security staff do not physically touch or restrain anyone

Members of the security staff that are outsourced from third parties feel they are not able to physically touch or restrain anyone, as they are governed by the same administrative contract for services such as telephone operators, receptionists, office assistants, and clerks.

“This in essence is displaying clerks or staff holding similar grades to perform the duties of security personnel in an environment which requires a particularly robust security function,” the report noted, explaining that this, coupled with a number of factors, led the NAO to “seriously question the adequacy” of the MCH security personnel.

It is the nurses trained to handle these types of situations who have this responsibility.

On the other hand, the security staff members are generally tasked with conducting patrols, noting which cars come in and out, ascertaining that all doors are closed, and calling for assistance if necessary.

However, during its site visits, the NAO observed that it was never actually stopped at MCH’s gates, nor was it questioned about its presence on the premises.

“In fact, the auditing team accessed MCH grounds by car [and on foot] multiple times without being challenged,” the report read.

The NAO observer noted, however, that after a patient had left the hospital last February, security was tightened. Nevertheless, it observed that the building was not always adequately manned and NAO officials were still able to enter with no questions asked.

It was noted that the auditing team was never stopped or prompted within the premises itself when they were not in possession of a visitor’s tag, nor were they ever searched for irregular items.

The NAO also found that security personnel have no effective means to distinguish patients from the general public, precluding them from stopping patients who attempt to leave the grounds.

MCH fails to make extensive use of CCTV

The hospital, the NAO said, also failed to make extensive use of CCTV as a security measure, noting that while there appeared to be such cameras in a number of wards, not all were operational. Some only covered the main door, leaving the rest of the ward unmonitored.

“Such shortcomings in an environment such as MCH is unacceptable given the potential consequences.”

Permanent measures to secure boundary rejected for aesthetic reasons

During inspections, the auditing team observed that while the staff “adhered religiously” to ensuring that no security doors were left open, keys were widely distributed among staff members, despite the wards being sensitive areas.

Security risks are also high, given that one boundary wall within a male ward was too low and increased the risk of an unauthorised exit, while the building’s apertures remain old and weakened. Asked why no permanent measures had been put in place, MCH representatives said the suggestion to put up extra fencing had been rejected for aesthetic reasons.