As part of the NHS Security Awareness Month (SAM) representatives from the NHS and Northumbria Police were on hand to give out pamphlets and offer advice to staff and visitors to Alexandra's restaurant, based in South Tyneside District Hospital, South Shields.

The annual campaign, supported by South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust, aims to raise awareness of security issues in and around its hospitals.

The hospital's fire safety and security manager Glenn Mattinson, 47, said: "The main aim is to let people know we are trying to provide a safe and secure environment for staff, patients and visitors.

"This event allows us to raise awareness of many aspects of security at the district hospital."

Married dad-of-three Mr Mattinson, from South Shields, was also eager to show how security facilities will be beefed-up even more in the new year with the help of technology.

One of these will be the expansion of the CCTV system within the grounds of South Tyneside District Hospital, which will see more cameras to crackdown on troublemakers.

And in February NHS Trust lone workers, who work out in the community, will be provided with new smart ID cards, whereby their movements - and if necessary conversations - can be monitored and recorded to help protect them from harassment, or violence in the course of their working day.

Mr Mattinson added: "Evidence including audio recordings, obtained through these devices may be used in criminal and civil proceedings to take sanctions against alleged offenders."

Also present on the day were the local counter fraud specialist (LCFS) for South Tyneside NHS Trust, Kathryn Wilson, and Alex Wilkinson, the crime prevention adviser for South Tyneside area command.

For more information, call 404 1043.