PSNI Donate High-Vis Vests To South West Acute Hospital Staff

Police officers in Enniskillen have donated high-visibility vests to staff at the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) to enhance their safety when walking to and from work.

Sergeant Lauren McFarland initiated the donation after observing that many hospital staff walked along roads during late evenings or in low light conditions without adequate high-visibility clothing. 

"I had noticed that quite a few members of staff who work at the SWAH like to make their journey to work on foot. This can involve them walking on the road for parts of their journey and many were doing so during the late evening, or during periods of low light, without any suitable hi-visibility clothing, which would make them more apparent to approaching motorists," Sergeant McFarland explained.

Recognising the potential risk, Sergeant McFarland collaborated with Alan Crooks from the local Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP) to secure funding for the vests.

Inspector Gary Irvine, the local Road Safety lead, joined Sergeant McFarland in presenting the vests to Professor Ronan O'Hare, Deputy Medical Director of the Western Trust. Professor O'Hare expressed gratitude for the donation, stating, "I am very grateful to Inspector Gary Irvine and Sergeant Lauren McFarland for providing a number of high viz vests which will be distributed to our health care workers who, due to shift patterns may be walking from the hospital, during late evenings. This kind gesture from our colleagues in the local policing service will ensure that our staff are safe and seen by other road users. Thank you very much for helping to support and protect our valuable health care workers as they make their way to and from the hospital site, this is very much appreciated."

Inspector Irvine highlighted the importance of road safety, noting, "Sixty-nine people died on Northern Ireland's roads in 2024, 8 of whom were pedestrians. These numbers are more than simply statistics, they are individuals who left home and never returned and that is why reducing deaths and serious injury on our roads is a priority for us."

He added: "It's important that we each do everything we can to keep ourselves and others safe on our roads, and so I am extremely pleased to join Sergeant McFarland in presenting these hi-viz vests to our incredible healthcare workers."