With concerns growing about criminals attacking staff and visitors on the compound which houses the Kingston Public and Victoria Jubilee hospitals, new security measures have been implemented.

Lyttleton 'Tanny' Shirley, chairman of the South East Regional Health Authority , last Friday declared that additional measures will be put in place to secure the compound.

"I'm actually at the hospital now and we have placed additional security on staff. We have had discussions with the police who have started routine patrol on the compound," said Shirley.

"There was also a gate that was opened to the community. We have placed a security there also because we wanted the community to have access to the compound, but we realise that the staff is being exposed so we have to be doing what is necessary to maintain safety," he declared.

The new security measures come in the wake of reports that a female doctor was robbed in the parking lot last Thursday.