INDUSTRYNEWS
SPONSORED BY ADVANCED KEYS
SECURITY IN HOSPITAL
ENVIRONMENTS
Jeremy Cassady, Managing Director of Securikey,
examines the complex issue of security in hospital
and other healthcare environments.
Security on a Budget
It goes without saying that, for those
in need of a medical procedure or who
are in a vulnerable state of health, there
is an innate desire to be looked after in
an environment that is safe and secure.
Hospitals need to provide appropriate
health and safety measures that will
greatly minimise the risk of crimes or
accidents, but within budget. For those
institutions funded by the NHS, financial
plans have had to be re-examined
following the changes published in the
Health and Social Care Act 2012, which
came into force in April 2013.
As a result of this restructuring process,
local authorities will be in charge of
allocating their own budget in order
to meet the specific needs of their
communities.
Striking a Balance
Regardless of the available budget,
however, there will always be a legal
requirement for essential security
equipment such as high quality safes
for Controlled Drugs. Fortunately, when
it comes to installing physical security
measures in hospitals, throwing endless
money at the problem is not the optimum
solution. The aim is to achieve the
perfect balance between maintaining
a welcoming, safe environment whilst
providing sufficient protection for
patients and hospital employees, in
addition to safeguarding valuable assets
such as medical equipment and drugs.
Appropriate risk assessment is, therefore,
essential in the first instance in order
to identify the main security risks. The
most suitable equipment can then be
selected that will meet legal standards
and minimise the possibility of crime
or accidents in the long term, while
contributing to an environment in which
patients and staff can feel safe.
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THE JAN/FEB 2014 ISSUE
SPONSORED BY ASSA ABLOY Security Solutions
Localising Security
Hospitals present their own unique
challenges in terms of safety and security,
not least because they are effectively open
campus environments. Staff are unable
carefully to monitor who is entering the
building at every moment of the day and
night and are unlikely to stop and question
a stranger owing to the large volume of
people coming and going. Coupled with
the sizeable amount of Controlled Drugs
that are administered and stored onsite,
identifying and implementing appropriate
safety measures is vital.
The most effective solution to safeguard
Controlled Drugs is to localise security
within small areas through the installation
of safes and secure cabinets, as these are
far easier to protect than an expansive
area. It is vital, though, that the physical
products selected provide a sufficient
level of security. The Misuse of Drugs
Regulations 1973 details the requirements
for safes that are used to store Controlled
Drugs. For instance, small stocks of
Controlled Drug raw materials and
preparations must be held in safes that
have been certified to Grades S1 or S2 of
BS/EN 14450. In addition, these should
ideally be constructed from heavily graded
material, such as mild steel sheet at least
2 to 3mm thick, and the safe or cabinet
must be fitted with a robust locking
mechanism. The emphasis on high quality
materials and construction is evident in
this documentation.
Leading manufacturers of physical
security products, such as Securikey, can
offer robust safes that are specifically
designed to meet these regulations,
making it quick and easy for decision
makers working in the healthcare sector to
specify the appropriate product. Subjected
to severe burglary and attack tests, safes
such as the