Marymount University Hospital & Hospice has Partnered with An Garda Síochána for the launch of a new Hospital Watch initiative, aimed at strengthening safety and preventing crime within the hospital and hospice community. The initiative is modelled on the residential Neighbourhood Watch scheme involving gardaí, Marymount, all patients, residents and staff. Speaking at the launch, Dr Sarah McCloskey, Chief Executive Officer of Marymount University Hospital Hospice, said:
“We are delighted today to launch Hospital Watch, working in partnership with An Garda Síochána to support us in preventing crime. At Marymount we are deeply committed to the safety and well-being of our staff, volunteers, patients, residents, and families. We are dedicated to the provision of optimum care, and safety is fundamental to this. Our Hospital Watch programme has been warmly welcomed by the Marymount team and is already proving to be very beneficial. We are enormously grateful to our colleagues in An Garda Síochána, especially Superintendent Finbarr O’Sullivan, Garda Ola Leahy, our Garda Liaison Officer, and their colleagues, for their commitment and support in this endeavour. We look forward to developing this collaboration further.”
Superintendent Finbarr O Sullivan, Community Engagement South (Togher), Cork City, An Garda Síochána, highlighted that Hospital Watch mirrors the principles of the well-known Neighbourhood Watch scheme, with a specific focus on the hospital environment.
“Hospital Watch operates as a partnership between An Garda Síochána in Togher Cork City, Marymount University Hospital Hospice, staff, patients, and visitors, with the goal of preventing crime within the hospital setting,” Superintendent O’Sullivan explained. “The initiative embodies partnership, problem solving, engagement, and crime prevention, ensuring that hospital staff, patients, and visitors remain safe.”
By participating in the Hospital Watch Programme, An Garda Síochána aim to:
– Prevent crime, particularly by reducing the fear of crime.
– Promote crime prevention awareness among hospital staff and service users.
– Facilitate engagement, partnership, and problem solving with hospital staff.
– Keep hospital staff, patients, and visitors safe.
Marymount’s collaboration with An Garda Síochána represents a proactive approach to fostering a secure, supportive environment where care and community safety go hand in hand.
Pictured: Dr Sarah McCloskey, CEO, Danielle Broe, Interim DON, Superindentant Finbarr O’Sullivan, Inspector Martin Canny & Garda Ola Leahy.