A district health board advisory group has warned New Zealand's hospitals to tighten up security to prevent abductions of children and babies.
Order of St John spokesman Robert Patton said that with overseas trends showing an increase in abductions of babies and children from hospitals, it was time local hospitals reviewed security.
The group advises the country's district health boards and health care providers on emergency management issues.
"Unless the hospital has been seen to have taken all reasonable steps to prevent an abduction, all publicity is bound to be adverse," Mr Patton said.
"Nothing evokes outrage more than an evil action against such an innocent and undeserving being as a baby or child."
In 1998, a 6-day-old baby was snatched from the maternity ward at Middlemore Hospital.
He was found 30 minutes later 2km from the hospital with a 17-year-old woman.
In 1993, a newborn boy was taken from National Women's Hospital and found 30 hours later.
In 1992, a 6-day-old baby was abducted from Northland Base Hospital in Whangarei. He was returned unharmed a few hours later.
Mr Patton said hospitals should also look beyond maternity wards when reviewing security measures to guard against abduction.
"Consider also your children's ward.
"The incidence of parental child abduction is rising, especially with increased marriage break-ups and messy custody battles.
"Your review should include analysis of how people are screened as they enter the ward, whom they visit and who leaves with them."
It was also important to put in place measures for a rapid response in case a child was abducted.
The organisation's risk management co-ordinator, Bruce Parkes, said abduction was a growing trend overseas and the warning was an "alert for hospitals to be aware of the potential for that here".
- NZPA
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