NORTH West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA) CEO Anthony Blake says since the incident that saw brazen gunmen stage a fatal attack at the accident and emergency (A&E) section of the Port of Spain General Hospital (PoSGH) on June 2, additional security measures have been added.

"We've had additional security on the compound and support from the TT Police Service (TTPS) in terms of having additional armed police at the compound.

"Our security providers have also added support."

Blake did not want to go into how much security had been added for safety and logistic purposes.

On June 3, Blake spoke to media after the deadly shooting incidents on June 2, first in Gonzales, Belmont and then outside the PoSGH's A&E, where gunmen shot the Gonzales shooting victims who had been brought to hospital for treatment. Four people died across those shooting incidents. One of them was shot and killed at the hospital.

Blake, who was accompanied by Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh and other members of the NWRHA on June 3, said an internal meeting was held to review security systems and discuss the well-being of staff.

[caption id="attachment_1089799" align="alignnone" width="683"] NWRHA CEO Anthony Blake -[/caption]

Newsday asked Blake by phone on Thursday how those meetings went. He said there was a tried and measured method in doing risk assessments for security measures for medical facilities.

Blake said he has had to put back on his military hat, as he is a former major of the TT Defence Force.

"The methodology we're using to improve the security is goal-setting – to determine what is actually needed and what we want to achieve.

"That is improving security, specifically at the A&E but also throughout the PoSGH."

He said after the goals were set, risk assessments were needed.

"We have been doing risk assessment with the security companies and the TTPS over the last week.

"I've even asked for assistance from my colleagues at the TT Regiment in that regard."

Blake said once the risk assessment was finished and possible scenarios were looked at, then the actual measures – installing cameras, additional security personnel or additional gates on the compound – can be implemented.

"After this, we augment our security policies and procedures to suit the strategies that were developed and then roll out training and awareness to the staff.

"Then, the testing and evaluation phase takes place and response plans are developed."

Blake said a new electronic gate was installed at the A&E entrance at the PoSGH to prevent "easy access to the emergency department...

"None of us at the regional health authorities prior to the incident on June 2 would've looked at five people with automatic rifles storming an A&E department as a possible scenario.

"Now we have seen it, and we have to plan for it and other eventualities at the hospital, and put the mitigating measures in place so an incident like that doesn't happen again."

Blake said the hospital scenario was part of a wider national