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Waikato Hospital Nurses Attacked In Car before Night Shift
31 May 2013
Two Waikato Hospital Nurses Attacked In Car before Night Shift
The Waikato District Health Board and Hamilton Police are appealing for witnesses after two nurses were attacked overnight.
Waikato DHB security manager Dean Ria said the attack happened on Horne St, shortly after 10pm as the victims sat in their car before their night shift.
The attacker approached the car at and aggressively forced his way inside the driver’s door. He presented a knife and repeatedly told the two women to get out while threatening them with the knife.
The victims fought off their attacker and after a short period he fled up Pembroke St. towards the Hospital's main entry.
“The victims immediately drove to the Emergency Department and contacted security who called Police and deployed to search the campus and surrounding areas," Mr Ria said.
The victims described the attacker as a dark skinned male wearing a red and white patterned bandana over his face aged in his early 20s, of medium height of slim to medium build with brown eyes and shaved black hair with a dark coloured or red hooded jersey and black trousers.
Prior to the attack, one of the victims noticed a male and female walk past their car and Police have asked this couple to come forward.
The female from this pair appeared aged in her late teens with long hair, an average build and had with her a whitish foot scooter.
“From a DHB perspective we're appealing to the public to come forward if you saw any suspicious activity around the Selwyn or Horne Street area between 9pm and 11:30pm.
"If you were the couple seen walking past the victims' car or know who they are you may hold information important in solving this case and we urge you to come forward and contact Police either directly on 07 858 6200 or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555111."
Mr Ria said Waikato DHB management can’t emphasise enough how important the safety of our staff is to us - particularly those working at night.
"As a result of this and a number of other incidents, we urge late and night shift staff to park in our main carpark building, which is secure and patrolled.”
"The Hospital’s main carpark has an extensive CCTV system at its entry and exit. Hospital security staff regularly patrol all staff carparks at night and are available to escort staff to and from their cars."
Meanwhile, the victims’ message is a cry for respect.
One, who asked not to be named, said people know that the hospital area is full of vulnerable women.
"We need people to respect us.
"We are looking after sick kids and their families and the last thing we need is to be abused at work or on our way to work. I shouldn’t have to feel scared,” one said.
Chief operating officer Jan Adams reiterated that any number of staff coming on duty need to feel safe and it is “totally and utterly unacceptable that this right has been breached.”
“Clearly this a totally reprehensible incident and we appeal to the public for any assistance they can give us. The nurses are very badly shaken but we are looking after them and putting measures in place to help them work through this,” she said.
About Waikato District Health Board and Health Waikato
Waikato DHB is responsible for planning, funding and providing quality health and disability support services for the 373,220 people living in the Waikato DHB region. It has an annual turnover of $1.2 billion and employs more than 6450 people.
Health Waikato is the DHB’s main provider of hospital and health services. It has six groups across five hospital sites, three primary birthing units, two continuing care facilities and 20 community bases offering a comprehensive range of primary, secondary and tertiary health services.
A wide range of independent providers deliver other Waikato DHB-funded health services - including primary health, pharmacies and community laboratories.
ENDS
Waikato District Health Board
Healthy People. Excellent Care
Waikato District Health Board (DHB) employs over 6500 people and plans, funds and provides hospital and health services to more than 391,770 people in a region covering eight per cent of New Zealand.
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