Middlemore Hospital ward boosts security after baby taken

Coenraad and Elsje Pretorius are pleased with the steps Middlemore has taken to increase security since baby Nadine was taken.

Hospital considers system that alerts staff when infants are taken past a barrier

An alert that activates when a baby is taken past a barrier is on the cards at Middlemore Hospital after an urgent security review into the kidnapping of a 5-day-old baby from the hospital's maternity ward.

Coenraad and Elsje Pretorius' daughter Nadine was taken from the hospital about 8pm on September 25, while Mrs Pretorius had a quick shower just metres away from her sleeping child.

The baby girl was found at a Manurewa property about 4am the next day, safe and well, and was reunited with her parents.

A security guard was immediately posted at the maternity ward, and card access systems were installed.

Phillip Balmer, director of hospital services, said the security review led to urgent recommendations to improve patient safety and security.

Further actions being considered included an alert system that could be activated should a baby and unauthorised person pass through a barrier.

"These could be multiple alerts to a series of receptors and could range from audible alerts to automatic locking of doors," Mr Balmer said.

Additional cameras were being installed and an agreement with police would give officers access to some cameras and digital video recordings when the need arose.

"That need would be largely driven by Middlemore, or if police believe a person of interest had entered the hospital," Mr Balmer said.

The Pretorius' were pleased with the steps Middlemore had taken to ramp up security since Nadine was taken.

But Mr Pretorius hoped security would not be relaxed as time passed.

"They said to me, 'We can't turn it into a fortress' but I disagree - it should be a fortress. This is our future ... Babies are soft targets," he said.

Mrs Pretorius was confident that no other family would go through such a terrifying ordeal.

"I don't know if they [Middlemore] will ever relax," she said. "I am confident this will never happen again, that they will never let it."

Loni Marsh, 27, pleaded guilty to a charge of kidnapping and an unrelated charge of driving while disqualified. She will be sentenced next month.

A 31-year-old man charged with kidnapping previously pleaded not guilty and elected trial by jury.