Vandals to be struck off doctors’ registers

Building understands that doctors have drawn up a pioneering agreement supported by contractor Galliford Try, which is building the St Helens Lift schemes in Merseyside, to tackle attacks on the project by vandals.

Under the initiative, any local person caught damaging the site could be removed from his or her doctor’s list, forcing the person to register outside the area for medical treatment.

This follows a series of attacks on the Manor Farm project in Hyton, which is part of the St Helens scheme. Building understands that this is now being monitored by undercover police and CCTV vans.

There is a problem with vandalism on sites in Merseyside, particularly in the less affluent districts surrounding areas such as St Helens. Merseyside police are stepping up protection of sites as part of a wider initiative to clean-up site security in the area.

A source involved with the initiative said: “If any of the patient list is caught vandalising this scheme they will be struck off.

“This will act as a huge deterrent to local people, many of whom are relatively poor and use the prescription service to obtain everyday items such as sanitary products and toilet paper.”

It’s unusual for a Lift scheme to be targeted; it is more often the big private developments

A Galliford Try source said that although vandalism was a big problem in the area, NHS Lift projects were usually left alone as the local people recognised that they were for their benefit.

He said: “It’s unusual for a Lift scheme to be targeted; it is more often the big private developments. Although the St Helens sites are the worst. But this initiative now looks to be deterring the attacks.”

The Manor Farm project is part of the St Helens Lift scheme, which was being built by Morrison before its takeover by Galliford Try last year.

Galliford Try is also working on the Lift programme for Liverpool and Sefton Primary Care Trusts, where it is main contractor and a stakeholder.

Galliford Try declined to comment.

Merseyside police’s action is part of a drive to protect building sites in the area, many of which have been targeted by protection rackets run by rogue security companies.