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Security
tag trial for
‘confused’
patients
VULNERABLE patients
at risk of going missing
from hospital will be moni-
tored in a new pilot scheme.
Patients at risk of ab-
sconding will either be fit-
ted with a security tag
which triggers an alarm at
doorways, or a tracker de-
vice allowing hospital staff
to monitor exactly where
they are – called active
monitoring.
Lancashire Teaching
Hospitals NHS Foundation
Trust, which runs the Royal
Preston and Chorley and
South Ribble hospitals, will
trial the £20,000 project.
Hospital bosses are
stressing they will only be
used on patients who are
unable to make conscious
decisions or are confused.
A decision to use the
monitoring device will be
made with the patient’s
family or carer.
The move has been wel-
comed by David Aspden,
23, of Tanterton, Preston,
whose 75-year-old grandfa-
ther went missing for six
hours from Royal Preston
Hospital and ended up 10
miles away.
David said: “The active
monitoring system sounds
better than the security tag
system, which is dependent
on staff being present when
the alarm sounds.”
Sue Reed, nursing direc-
tor, said: “We will see if the
system complements nurs-
ing care.”
Mysterystar
festivalbound
A MYSTERY television
soap star is to appear at a
spring festival.
The Coronation Street
celebrity will open the an-
nual Spring Fair, at Tar-
leton Holy Trinity CE Pri-
mary School, in Church
Road, Tarleton, on May 16.
The event will run from
noon to 3pm with a range of
family activities and stalls,
which will raise money for
the school.
Parks talk
KIRKHAM and District
Horticultural Society will
hold its next meeting at
Kirkham Grammar School
on Thursday at 7.30pm.
Richard Pape will speak
about the National Parks.
Evening Post, Tuesday, May 5, 2009 +7
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I can’t ride the bike...
I’ve not passed the test
PC says he must have taken
Cycling Proficiency Test
before he can pose for picture
IT’S PC gone mad... by Chris Visser
When Preston police consta-
chris.visser@lep.co.uk
ble Tony Cobban was asked to
pose for a photo on a new and age you have to cover all bases.
mountain bike he said he was It’s the way of the world.
not allowed – because he has “I could get on the bike, but I’m
not passed his Cycling Profi- not massively proficient.”
ciency Test. The bike rule was today met with
While a community support of- bemused criticism – from the po-
ficer saddled up for the snap, PC lice’s own authority.
Cobban could only stand and watch David Whipp, member of Lan-
– because of health and safety red cashire Police Authority, said: “I
tape. But it has emerged he was think it’s one of these PC gone mad
only following guidelines insisted things over PCs on bikes. I think
upon by his bosses. having coppers on bikes is great.
Lancashire Police says any offi- “I think the balance on health
cer who has not passed the exam, and safety is probably right, but
based on the course taken by thou- there may be one or two occasions
sands of schoolchildren every year, where you raise your eyebrows.”
is banned from using a bike. Coun Geoff Driver, Conserva-
PC Cobban, officer for Preston’s tive group leader for Lancashire
St George’s ward, said: “It was ba- County Council, said: “You are
sically a health and safety thing. I winding me up! The mind boggles
was just being cautious as I haven’t when a grown man can’t go on a
passed the Cycling Proficiency Test. bike for a photograph.
“My personal view would be con- “When I hear stories like this I
cern if anything happens to me just think what on earth is going
while on the bike and it hasn’t been on.”
risk assessed or insured – in this day Lancashire Police Insp Nick Em-
mett said: “Our officers are re-
quired to be appropriately
trained and assessed prior to
using bikes for patrolling in order
to comply with insurance and for
the safety of themselves and the
public.
“An increasing number of
PEDAL POWER: Nigel Morrall, the Halfords store manager, hands the
bikes over to PC Tony Cobban and PCSO Emma Nixon
our neighbourhood offi-
cers do patrol their OTHER ‘PC GONE MAD’ MOMENTS
wards on bikes and
their communities ● Lancashire police officers had to despite being fighting fit.
have welcomed be sent on a course to use a ● A charity cake sale at a shopping
this due to their three-foot ladder to put up an centre in Wyre in aid of heroic
increased ef- anti-speed device. servicemen was banned – unless
fectiveness ● Ashton school lollipop man organisers paid £150 public liability
and visibili- Ken Morley was told he had insurance.
ty.” to retire because he was ● Prison staff at HMP Wymott in
T h e about to reach the Leyland were left stunned after being
force said the maximum age of 75 - told to address inmates as ‘Mr’.
cycling proficiency exam they
previous
use is a modified version of
tests taken by youngsters learn-
ing to ride bikes, but is “police
specific” using in-house in-
structors issuing extra guidance stories
such as how to use police ra-
dios while cycling. lep.co.uk
PC Cobban and PCSO ● Prison staff told to
Emma Nixon were pictured ac- address inmates as ‘Mr’
cepting new bike equipment ● Police using boot
from Halfords after a commu- marks to catch criminals
ON THE ROAD: PCSO Emma Nixon nity-funding programme.