Agencies condemn anti-social behaviour at hospital

A mattress was set on fire during one of the many anti-social behaviour incidents at Llandudno General Hospital.

Nursing staff have been insulted, hospital toilets have been flooded and the contractors' office broken into by youths.

Hospital managers were forced to restrict access to the site after a number of youths repeatedly entered the grounds after hours.

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB), Conwy County Borough Council and North Wales Police have condemned the behaviour.

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service attended the hospital after a mattress was deliberately set ablaze in a store room.

In another incident, one youth smashed a wine bottle outside the Minor Injuries Unit (MIU), cutting their hand in the process.

They then smeared blood over windows and walls at the unit, while initially refusing treatment from staff.

Last week, nurses suffered verbal abuse from young people loitering around the MIU.

At the time of the incident, the nurses were tending to a patient who had become seriously ill and needed urgent transportation by emergency ambulance.

Due to the incidents, security staff have now been employed on out-of-hours patrols.

Nichola Hughes, head of intermediate care and specialist nursing for BCUHB's Central Integrated Health Community, said anti-social behaviour had no place in or near a hospital.

"Our staff are trying to care for people and it is totally unacceptable they should have to endure this.

"Their jobs are hard enough without having to withstand verbal abuse and criminal damage," she said.

North Wales Police has been working closely with the health board to keep staff safe and tackle the incidences of poor behaviour on site.

District Inspector Catherine Walker said their officers have had to attend "unnecessary incidents" at the hospital.

She urged parents and carers to ensure they know where their children are and said they will deal "with all such instances robustly".