Police are investigating an assault on a hospital worker in Christchurch who was on her way to work.
Senior Sergeant Paul Robertson said two people on an electric scooter hit the woman in the back on Hagley Avenue at 8.20pm on Monday.
Health NZ regional deputy chief executive for the South Island Martin Keogh said the assault was “very disturbing”.
It comes a fortnight after a student midwife was attacked on the way to their car after leaving work at Christchurch Hospital’s birthing unit at night.
Keogh said the hospital had increased security patrols.
“We are working with police, our council colleagues, to try and think about and put as many strategies in place to try protect our people,” he said.
There was a shortage of car parking in the area and people driving to work had to park a distance away from the hospital at times, he said. The hospital had a free shuttle service from 9pm to 1am to take people to and from their cars.
Keogh said the hospital parking rate of $25 an hour was cheaper than alternatives in the area.
rnz.co.nz
