Police officer on site helps hospital retain staff

A police officer is on duty at the Cramlington hospital each night

Placing a police officer within a hospital has led to fewer security officers resigning because they feel safer, an NHS Trust has said.

Since Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital (NSECH) opened in Cramlington in 2015 it has called the police many times because of violence towards staff, patients and visitors.

Northumbria Police now stations an officer at the hospital each night as part of an initiative to reduce violence.

Chris Campbell, from Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management, said he was "thrilled" the initiative was leading to improvements at the hospital.

"We are particularly pleased to see that our employee turnover rate has improved since establishing the partnership.

"It is reassuring to know that our staff feel safe when delivering care to our patients and visitors."

According to the trust, the turnover rate for staff working in the hospital's security team has fallen from 20% in 2019 to 3.7% in 2024.

The initiative was set up in October 2020 and has involved monthly meetings between the force and the hospital security team to share knowledge and address concerns.

Northumbria Police has also provided a training package around de-escalation techniques and the basics of law.

Insp Jonathan Caisley said: "The fall in the number of reports to us requesting assistance in recent years shows that our relationship is having a positive effect."