Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter
FED UP with a spate of robberies on the grounds of the Bellevue Hospital in Kingston, staff members yester-day protested for improved security at the institution.
The latest incident involved the robbery of a female staff member about 8:00 p.m. last Saturday night.
"We are saying that's enough!" said Fay Robinson-Tee, a nurse at the hospital. "We are lacking proper fencing, we still have unlit walk and driveways, untrimmed trees and still have people using here (the hospital) as a thoroughfare."
She was speaking to The Gleaner yesterday outside the hospital gate where she and several other members of staff demonstrated with placards.
NO POSITIVE RESPONSE
Mrs. Robinson-Tee said staff members and the hospital administration have sought the intervention of the Ministry of Health over the years, but to no avail.
"We have agitated before, particularly in 2004 when a doctor was robbed, and we came out and met with the minister, but the outcome was nothing significant," she said.
Mrs. Robinson-Tee told The Gleaner that, although there are security guards on the com-pound, it is difficult for them to man all the areas because of the number of entry points to the compound.
"What we are asking for is a perimeter wall with razor wires so people can't cut and go through as they feel like," she said.
Bellevue Hospital, which is over 140 years old, currently has more than 800 patients and some 600 members of staff.
"We know that the patients have not done us anything and our responsibility still lies with them, but we also need some-body to protect and care for us," said Mrs. Robinson-Tee.
The nurse said a petition would be sent to the health ministry this week.
"Constant, steady pressure will be put on the powers that be to address the issues that face us here at Bellevue Hospital," she added.
