Telephone Safety Posts Put in Hospital Carparks

20/11/2007 | Telephone posts

Recently the first few in a series of telephone safety posts to be erected on the Palmerston North Hospital Car parks were installed in the Car park A (opposite the Hanger) a second post is currently being positioned in Car park C (opposite the ED Ambulance Entry).

It is anticipated that both these posts will be operational at the end of November.

The posts are primarily intended to be used when seeking emergency assistance from the Hospital Security Team.

They are a proactive measure implemented as part of the continual ‘Security improvement process’ designed to enhance the overall safety and security of the Palmerston North Hospital.


Keeping staff, patients and visitors
safe: Security Supervisor Wayne
Casey checks out the new emergency
telephone post.

The red 2.5 metre steel telephone safety posts are designed to be robust and vandal proof and highly visible by day and night. On top of the post a blue light illuminates the post by night and will strobe when the Emergency button is pressed and help is sought by a caller.

The telephone consists of a face plate with two buttons, one for emergency and the other for requesting information, however currently only the emergency button will be operating.

The Telephone Safety Post is simple to use. Just press the emergency button to dial and you will be connected with the monitoring station operator who will ask you your name, location and nature of the emergency.

The monitoring station operator will then contact Hospital Security Officer via the hospital telephonist.

The telephones are set to dial one number only and cannot be used to make any other types of calls.

Requests for ‘non emergency assistance’ and information will cease at the monitoring station and the callers directed to contact the hospital directly.

On being notified a Hospital Security Officer will respond quickly to the location of the call and provide assistance to the caller appropriate to the situation.

In future, it is anticipated that the information button will be enlivened and that protocols will be developed to call the Emergency Services directly. 

Any question/concerns should be directed to David Christophers, Manager Security and Fire Extn 8533, or Pager 456 in the first instance.