A WARNING has gone out to staff and visitors at The Royal Oldham Hospital after a woman doctor was robbed of her bag and car at knifepoint on the car park.

It was the latest in three recent similar incidents of robbery at the hospital.

Three men wearing balaclavas pounced on the doctor who was approaching her Audi Q2 car on the Westwood Park staff car park at 9pm on Friday night before threatening her with the knife. She was not physically injured.

Hospital bosses have used Twitter to warn staff and visitors saying: “We will be increasing security on The Royal Oldham Hospital site following three recent incidents of robbery.

“More security officers will provide a dedicated presence on the Westwood Park staff car park and other areas of the Oldham site from 4pm until midnight.”

One staff member told The Oldham Times: “The hospital bosses are quick enough to charge us for parking – they should be making sure we are safe.

“We are all being vigilant when approaching the car park, but it’s not always easy when nurses are finishing late for them to go on to the car park in twos.

“The latest incident happened near the mortuary. It’s quite a long walk from the hospital building and is quite secluded.”

Another staff member wrote on Facebook: “Be very vigilant when parking in or around Oldham hospital.

“Three staff members have been attacked at knife point in the car parks, over the past few weeks, they have taken their car and belongings.”

Tony Carter, Group Head of Security at The Royal Oldham Hospital said: “Staff safety and the safety of our patients and visitors is our priority, and we are working with the Police assisting their enquiries.

“In order to ensure that our staff remain safe we have increased our security presence and personnel on The Royal Oldham Hospital site and we are now providing an additional dedicated security presence on the staff car parks and across the site between 4pm and midnight.

“The police are taking this seriously and have also increased their patrols of the Oldham hospital site.

“Staff who work nightshifts are being offered security escorts where requested. We are monitoring our CCTV footage and anybody with information about the crimes should contact the Police directly.

“We are also encouraging staff to be more vigilant and report any suspicious behaviour to the Trust security team so they can investigate.

“We are urging staff to be careful, especially at night time, and keep to well-lit areas, to stay alert and not to wear headphones when walking. Where possible, if it is late or dark, staff should walk together in pairs. We are also advising staff that once inside their car they should lock the doors.”

A police spokesman said: "Police were called shortly before 9pm on Friday, March 15 to a report of a robbery at knifepoint on Westhulme Avenue, Royal Oldham Hospital.

"A woman was approached by four men who stole her car, a black Audi Q2, after threatening her with a knife."

The offenders are all described as white, dressed in black and wearing balaclavas. All spoke with Manchester accents. One was carrying a knife.

Anyone with information should call police on 101 quoting incident 2155 of 15/03/19 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.