Home > Services > Security

Security at Addenbrooke's

Contact: Box 102, Tel: 01223 217 240; Enquires: 6606; Emergencies: hospital extension 3333

Security for all staff, patients and visitors is a very high priority for the Trust. It is also a priority nationally with the establishment of the NHS Security Management Services in 2003, which sets targets and publishes guidelines. At Addenbrooke's, we have a number of security measures in place, outlined in our Security Strategy, including:

'Challenge culture': Clear identification of Addenbrooke's staff

All Trust staff should wear their identification (ID) smartcards when working or on site.

We encourage all our staff to reinforce the 'challenge culture' across the hospital site: If staff see someone behaving suspiciously, looking lost and/or not wearing an ID badge in staff-only areas, they should 'challenge them' in a non-confrontational manner (eg 'May I help you') or seek assistance to do so.

Using technology to protect patients, visitors and staff

Our ID cards (see above) identify clearly our staff and include their photo, name and job title. They also control staff access to car parking, access to some sensitive areas of the Hospital and to the staff-only computing facilities.

Protecting Addenbrooke's and the Police

This is an innovative joint scheme with the local police. Its aim is to reduce both crime and the fear of crime at the Hospital and provide a safe environment for staff, patients and visitors. We have a police officer working on site.

To date, this joint working has resulted in a dramatic reduction in recorded crime on site - especially vehicular and cycle theft.

Safer Car Parks

We have achieved the Safer Car Parks standard for both staff and visitor car parks. This ensures adequate levels of lighting and fast responses of security staff to requests for assistance. It also reflects the reduction in levels of reported crime.

Security advisor

Our security advisor advises the Trust on security issues, undertakes risk assessments and educates staff on security matters.

Security cameras

We have increased the number of security cameras across the site to 146. These are situated both inside and outside buildings and across our car parks. They are monitored 24-hours a day by security staff and have led to a reduction in al vehicle crime and we have provided evidence to the Police for successful prosecutions.

Security Steering Group

Our Security Steering Group meets regularly to monitor and guide the progress of the Protecting Addenbrooke's initiative; its membership includes management, staff representatives and the local police.

Specialist patrols

There are 24-hour patrols carried out by security staff, both internally and externally.

Specialist training 

Porters and security staff are trained in security issues.

Training for more vulnerable groups of staff 

The Trust provides specialist training for it staff to counteract violence and aggression from patients and visitors.

Often, simple measures taken by staff can help avoid frustration and prevent problems including injury. We can help staff recognise early signs of anger and take steps to diffuse the situation and protect themselves.

Zero tolerance

Violence and aggression from patients and visitors can be an issue for our staff. A recent analysis of incident reports (from January 2004 to December 2004) reports 179 incidents of physical violence to staff and 123 incidents of verbal aggression.

We do not tolerate aggression towards our staff who work hard to provide an essential service to the community.

We understand that coming into hospital can be a difficult time for patients and visitors, and that some patients' conditions mean they might behave in a way they would not normally, such as the elderly who can be confused by the hospital surroundings and those coming out of long-term sedation. It is important to treat each patient individually, to understand the reasons for their behaviour and deal with their particular needs in the most appropriate manner.

We place special emphasis on training our staff to recognise potentially stressful or difficult situations, and to diffuse them as far as possible, as well as to deal with people under stress.

We have a number of measures in place to make sure our staff are trained to deal with difficult situations, and to protect both staff and patients from people who are violent and aggressive. These include a comprehensive policy on violence and aggression, which includes providing frontline staff with customer care training and managing aggression skills, and offering the PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service), through which people can express any concerns they have about their care.

For the really difficult situations we have a 24-hour security team, as well as a police presence at the hospital.

Also on this website:

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)

On other websites:

NHS Zero Tolerance Zone