AUSTRALIA - Bikie shootings prompt hospital security worries

OFF THE WIRE
Unions say security issues because of Vincenzo Focarelli's presence in the Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH) raise concern about what the new city hospital will be like.The self-appointed Comancheros bikie gxxg leader remains in a stable condition in the RAH, after he was shot four times on Sunday night in an attack which killed his 22-year-old son Giovanni.
On Tuesday, the foyer of the hospital in North Terrace in the city was evacuated while police investigated a parcel that had been left for Mr Focarelli, but it turned out to be safe.
Peter Christopher from the Public Service Association says there is a need for a secure area in the new RAH which is being built at the other end of North Terrace.
But he says the South Australian Government has knocked back that idea.
"They could actually structure in a way that prisoners or other people who, for security reasons, need to be taken into and out of hospital could actually, in a sense, bypass the normal main entrances and other areas and it could be purpose-built in a particular part of the hospital," he said.
Steven, who is a doctor at the current RAH, says a secure area would be warranted in the new facility.
"I think as part of the new hospital they need to seriously consider having a secure zone, much like we see in hospitals interstate that are nearby to large prisons so that they actually have quite a secure facility that has controlled access that is not going to disrupt the rest of the hospital," he said.
Andrew Murray of the Salaried Medical Officers Association says there is too much secrecy about at-risk patients.
He says the hospital workers should be given more information.
"The question then is well why in the expectation of a potentially-significant issue are there not special arrangements in place to forewarn staff what might occur, perhaps encourage people not to go to those areas or indeed why is there not an area of the hospital set aside for dealing with patients of that nature?" he said.

VIDEO: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-02-01/hospital-security-prisoners-rah/3804464?section=sa