Security in hospitals has had a heightened profile in recent years as a result
of several high profile cases, often involving the abduction of infants from maternity
wards.
Although not such a focus for the media's attention, attacks on staff by patients,
thefts from wards and problems with other unwanted and unauthorised visitors have
been of increasing concern to hospital managers and health authorities.
Resolving security problems
A well designed security system in conjunction with clear security policies and
processes can help resolve many of the security problems currently experienced
in hospitals today. For example to combat the risk of infant abduction a baby
tagging system can be installed in all maternity wards.
The system involves a tag being put around a baby's ankle which responds to
sensor panels located at hospital exits. If the baby is taken through the sensor
an alarm goes off and the hospital's security team alerted. G4S Security Systems
is also developing the concept of RFID tagging, whereby the tag can be tracked
beyond the confines of the hospital.
| case studies |
| Salisbury Health Authority |
| Faced with growing security threats to both staff and patients
of all ages, Salisbury Health Authority sought G4S Security Systems ' help to build a CCTV,
access control, barrier entry and a baby tagging system, ensuring total security
for the hospital site. read more
|
CCTV cameras focused on the entrance to a maternity ward can be integrated
into the system to allow security staff to view people entering and leaving the
ward, particularly focusing on any occasion when a tag alarm is triggered.
Panic buttons, links to local police stations and access control system in particular
to medicine cabinets and equipment rooms can all form a effective security strategy
for hospitals.
Cost effective solutions
However G4S Security Systems is very aware that financial considerations are key to decisions
made about security, since spending on security would undoubtedly have an impact
on other services offered.
A manager faced with improving security or paying for vital cancer drugs would
often choose to purchase the cancer treatment given the choice. With this in mind
G4S Security Systems can work closely with hospitals to devise the most cost effective
systems that still meet all their needs, and help identify long term cost savings
that can be achieved through a proactive security strategy. For example, G4S Security Systems is investigating the possibility of charging parents for a baby tag – at a very
low cost- which increases baby security significantly but at no cost to the hospital.
