Kidnap prompts security step-up

Hospital staff have been offered personal security guards after a junior doctor was robbed at knifepoint and kidnapped as he arrived at work.

He was driven 50 miles (80km) to Stevenage after being threatened with a knife in the grounds of Queen's Hospital in Romford, east London.

The hospital has since offered all staff escorts to their vehicles.

A 42-year-old man and a 16-year-old youth appeared in court last week charged with kidnap and robbery.

The pair allegedly released the 26-year-old doctor unharmed three hours later before driving off with his car, wallet and mobile phone.

A spokesman for Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals NHS Trust said the number of security staff on the site had been increased.

"A personal escort to vehicles by a member of the security team has also been made available to all staff members," said the spokesman.