Staff have been calling for security improvements at Palmerston North Hospital. Photo:
A person is in custody after an alleged theft, which left a person injured on the grounds of Palmerston North Hospital.
Police said officers were called to a Ruahine Street carpark about 1.30pm on Tuesday.
The victim received moderate injuries.
Police said the alleged offender left the scene and was found a short time later.
"Police would like to thank the members of the public who witnessed the incident and intervened to assist the victim," a police spokesperson said.
It comes after 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.
Staff have been calling for security improvements.
In a statement, MidCentral Health NZ group director of operations Sarah Fenwick said they were aware of an alleged incident in the Palmerston North Hospital carpark and were working with police.
"Our staff and visitors deserve to be safe and any form of violence is unacceptable," she said.
"We take staff, patient and visitor safety extremely seriously and we are continuing to implement a range of measures to improve safety.
"This includes increasing security services on the hospital campus and carpark."
Fenwick previously told RNZ it was committed to making staff feel safer, and had introduced a range of measures.
She said these included a security escort to vehicles, increasing security services on hospital grounds, and "opening up" access to the staff carpark for people working afternoon and night shifts.
"Lighting has been audited in all outside carparking areas to ensure it is well maintained," she said.
"Interim access to well-lit parking onsite, with dedicated security for staff working afternoon and night shifts, will continue, while a more permanent solution for out-of-hours carparking is developed."
