Martin Azzopardi, general manager, G4S Security Services (Malta), Qormi
Incident at hospital
I refer to the letter by Alexandra Gayford (June 18) complaining about the behaviour of G4S security personnel at Mater Dei Hospital's accident and emergency department last month.
G4S personnel are there to serve the public while fulfilling the vital role of maintaining order. Each security officer stationed at Mater Dei Hospital has received specific training to deal with such situations. The procedure is clear: security personnel always act under orders from the nursing officer, who is the person responsible for the A&E department.
Both G4S and the hospital administration carried out a thorough investigation of this complaint, including taking written statements of those on duty when the alleged incident occurred. According to these statements, at no point in time were the G4S security personnel rude, arrogant nor did they raise their voices. If anything, it was the visitors who did the very thing they accused the G4S personnel of doing, apart from also resorting to foul language.
The alleged incident stemmed from an order from the nursing officer to G4S personnel to clear the cubicles of extra visitors since, according to hospital regulations, only one visitor is allowed in each cubicle with the patient. Visitors in all the other cubicles obeyed directions from the G4S personnel, except those with Ms Gayford's mother. One person would surely have been sufficient to act as a translator if this were necessary.
The fact that they were in a public hospital, and were foreigners, does not entitle them to special treatment and the reason the cubicles are cleared is to enable the hospital staff to carry on with their work as efficiently as possible, for the benefit of the same patients.
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Frans Sammut
Jul 27th 2009, 18:50
At first blush it would seem there are more security people at Mater Dei than professional health carers. A breakdown of their actual numbers would clarify the perception. Secondly the way these people carry themselves about (I was about to write the way they throw their weight around) reminds one of Wild West movie traditions from John Wayne's time down to Sergio Leone's. They walk the hospital corridors as if gathering for an OK Corral showdown. The only motive behind this macho exhibitionism I can think of is that they are trying to make up for their lack of self esteem when at primary school, probably due to their poor academic showings. I would like to take this opportunity to point out that, inversely, local wardens seem to be maturing and showing less cowboy antics on our roads. Somebody must have TOLD them. Now somebody ought to TELL the Mater Dei types. If the present economic situation has made local wardens grow up, there is no reason why it should not have the same healthy effect on their Mater Dei counterparts. Behave, boys, you make some of us laugh, and others (like Ms Gayford) pull back in disgust.
Reuben Griscti
Jul 27th 2009, 16:20
@Peter Murray Granted Mr. Azzopardi did his job well, he would have taken into account both statements from his employees as well as statements from other members of staff who were in duty in A&E on the date in question. I have had the pleasure of working in A&E in St. Luke's in the past. We had the pleasure of meeting countless pleasant and grateful patients, but also had the misfortune of having to deal with countless patients/relatives who treated our staff in ways I would never dream of mentioning on this blog! I lost count of the times I was verbally abused by such individuals-unfortunately, in Malta, there is little one can do. The situation in MDH is probably slightly better, also thanks to improved security provided by dedicated Police officers & G4S personnel. I would like to thank these people for making the department somewhat safer for my colleagues, whilst also thanking everyone for their hardwork in helping our loved ones at moments of need.
H DEMPSTER
Jul 27th 2009, 12:40
To find out the whole truth one must hear both versions . Myself being a maltese was also once sworn at., just because the guy was in a bad moodeand had just been told off by his superiors. This story does not surprise me at all.
lgalea
Jul 27th 2009, 11:42
Peter Murray
This is not in any way to defend anyone who may be rude or arrogant, but the hospital rules are there to be obeyed whether you are a Maltese citizens and more so if you are a foreigner.
I am sure that the reference to foreigners was because it appears that because some people are foreign they tend to look down on locals and think they can do whatever they like and disregard orders by the competent authorities. Had this happened in a foreign hospital I am sure that they would have been arraigned for obstructing the authorities and even perhaps tazed if they resisted orders.
Peter Murray
Jul 27th 2009, 10:22
It would be interesting to learn where Mr.Azzopardi actually was when this incident occurred as it would appear he was actually there when the scenario unfolded ?It is one thing to defend his staff but to totally refute the allegations made by the people concerned,and gratuitously mention that they were foreigners,is an entirely different matter.For presumably he bases his apparently incontestable and unilateral accusations on his staff's testimony alone and that therefore the submissions of the people making the allegations must be false and fabricated.How can he be so immutably sure that his and his staff's version of events are the true ones,and did he at any stage of the proceedings consult with the people making the allegations?Absolute knowledge is a marvellous commodity to possess especially when it is solely based on one side's input.