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Kevin Stent / Things
Helen Coffey says a security guard at Hutt Hospital tried to prevent her from entering Hutt Hospital, where she was due to undergo surgery on her broken leg.
Security guards stationed at Hutt Hospital have been charged again with trying to deny a patient access to medical care.
Helen Coffey says a guard became aggressive after she and her husband disliked him when they were trying to enter the hospital for a scheduled leg surgery in March.
This is the second claim filed with security contractors used by the hospital after Gregory Ioane was dismissed from the emergency department while suffering from a severe asthma attack.
Rosa Woods / Things
Coffey said the guards seemed to wield a lot of power in the hospital and that people requiring medical attention should not be placed at his mercy.
On March 28, Coffey and her husband were detained for examination visits as part of the hospital’s coronavirus measures.
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She said that a guard stirred as he took his details, complaining that he was speaking too fast.
Trying to be helpful, she pulled out her appointment card, which he wrinkled in his fist and threw at the couple.
“He was really shocked. He was acting threatening. He was a big guy, he was quite intimidating.”
Rosa Woods / Things
Security prevented Greg Ioane from reaching the Hutt emergency department during a severe asthma attack. You are concerned that security may prevent others from entering the hospital unnecessarily.
Another attempt to verbally convey his details bothered him further, he said, before he told them to leave the hospital.
Coffey said a hospital worker who she believed to be a nurse intervened after listening to the line and ushered them in despite protests from the guard.
He initially attributed the event to the guard who had a bad day, but decided to speak up after reading about Ioane’s experience in the Hutt News.
She said the guards seemed to wield a lot of power in the hospital and that people requiring medical attention should not be placed at their mercy.
A verbal complaint was made to a nurse, however, Coffey was not sure if he formally introduced himself.
Joy Farley, director of provider services for the Hutt Valley District Board of Health, said clinical staff had been added to the gates to conduct screening in the days following the introduction of alert level 4.
No complaints were received about the incident, although he was concerned to hear of Coffey’s experience.
After the episode involving Ioane, the health board met with the safety provider to remind the company of its responsibilities and to reinforce the expectations of the health board.
He encouraged people to submit complaints so that matters are addressed.
