Too little, too late?

Thursday 31 March 2005 was the 25th Anniversary of arguably the darkest day in community health practice. It was the day when Caroline Puckett died.

Caroline was an Oxford health visitor murdered while on duty by the partner of a client. The case has long been forgotten despite research by the MORI organisation indicating that nursing and medicine are among those occupations most highly regarded by members of the general public.

In contrast to estate agents, who are viewed in a very negative light by the majority.

How ironic that the case of missing estate agent Suzy Lamplugh remains firmly in the public consciousness.

Any sincere effort to improve security for nurses and other lone workers is welcome. However, there comes a point when effective security for some lone workers can only be achieved when they cease to work alone... By bringing in close protection (as healthcare providers in the USA have demonstrated and I have assessed at first hand).

Had close protection been available for Oxford’s health visitors on 31 March 1980, it’s highly likely that Caroline Puckett would still be with us.

I sincerely hope that chief executive Jim Gee and his team at the Counter Fraud and Security Management Service will reflect on that, and do something about it.

Malcolm Cheshire, Executive Principal The Arkwood Centre