KEY POINTS:
The head of New Zealand's maximum security psychiatric ward, where a nurse is accused of having a sexual relationship with an insane killer while on escorted visits with him, says the public have no reason to fear.
The man, who has name suppression, has given evidence at a Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal which heard how the man and a nurse allegedly had sex in public toilets at the Pt Chevalier library, a McDonald's restaurant and nearby Unitec.
Mason Clinic clinical services director Sandy Simpson told the Herald people around Pt Chevalier and other areas did not need to feel unsafe when patients were let out on visits. "The public have never been endangered during community visits and contact."
The clinic aims to reintegrate all patients back into the community as soon as they are well.
Many discharged are in employment.
However, Dr Simpson would not expand on the clinic's policy for escorted visits and whether it had changed since the 2004 incident.
"I feel a bit uncomfortable commenting during the tribunal proceedings even though I know there will be a lot of questions and those questions are quite legitimate.
"I will be happy to comment once it's all over."
- Additional reporting NZPA
