'We need real security guards': Cleaners doubling as security guards at rural Waikato hospitals

RNZ News

06-05-2025

Health New Zealand said the an "integrated" service operates at all four rural hospitals in the Waikato.
Photo:
Bret Kavanaugh / Unsplash
A nurse at a rural Waikato hospital says cleaners are doubling as security guards; covering both jobs when they are on shift.
Health New Zealand confirmed the an "integrated" service is operating at all four rural hospitals in the Waikato.
A Te Kūiti Hospital nurse said they need dedicated security to help protect both the workers and patients.
The nurse, who
Checkpoint
has agreed not to name, said they have seen violence and aggravation in the hospital as a result of people being frustrated with the health system.
They said they generally feels safe during the day shifts but once it hits later in the day, or on the weekends, the nurse described feeling "50 percent safe".
"There's less people around... We have just our cleaner, who's also our security guard," they said.
"They have their jobs as a cleaner to complete, which aren't necessarily in the ward where we are. They can be anywhere in the hospital.
"Overnight, there's only two nurses on and our security cleaner. Sometimes they [the cleaner] are doing double shifts, so they're pretty tired... That makes it even a bit more less feeling safe."
The worker said the two roles used to be separate but claimed Health NZ decided to scrap that model and make the cleaners double as a security guard.
"We lost some very good cleaners over this because they didn't want to be security guards, they just wanted to clean," the nurse said.
"Now, they have to go outside, in the dark, alone [and] make sure the hospital and surrounding areas are safe. Make sure our cars aren't broken into - which happens very often, unfortunately."
Te Kūiti Hospital.
Photo:
RNZ/Natalie Akoorie
Health New Zealand said that an integrated 24/7 security, cleaning and attendant service operates at all four rural hospitals in the Waikato.
A spokesperson said all staff employed in hospital security roles are qualified to a minimum of NZQA level 2, and are holders of a current Certificate of Approval issued by the Ministry of Justice.
They added on duty security staff are equipped with both a duty phone and RT radios to ensure they are accessible at all times.
"We have not been made aware of any security incidents that have been unable to be appropriately responded to since the model has been introduced," a spokesperson said.
"However, review of the integrated security, cleaning, and attendant service at Te Kūiti hospital has recently been completed and the recommendations are currently being considered."
The nurse said some of the cleaners aren't suited to being security guards.
"These particular ladies, I don't think they would be able to stand up to someone who would be very aggravated in a situation where time is precious and a lot of people are counting on them to make sure everybody is safe," they said.
The nurse is calling for dedicated security guards to be reinstated.
"We just need real security guards again. We used to have them from 6pm to 6am and they would be a presence in the hospital... They would be there, by the door, just making sure we are safe."
It comes as health workers are increasingly feeling unsafe at their jobs.
At Palmerston North Hospital, staff have been
calling for more security
after a series of violent attacks.
A nurse leaving her shift last month was
held up at gunpoint
outside the grounds of the hospital, with the perpetrator yet to be found.
That same night a staff member was knocked unconscious, suffering a serious head injury.
Palmerston North Hospital senior staff say not a day goes by without a health worker getting abused or assaulted, and staff are feeling frightened and unsafe.
They want security guards to have additional powers so - as happens in courts and at Parliament - they can restrain people acting violently.
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