Early Findings of the Safer Hospitals Initiative

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Early Findings of the Safer Hospitals Initiative

• Chris Wyers
• Home Office
• Police Scientific Development Branch

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The Initiative

• Partnership with the Department of Health
• (NHS Counter Fraud Security Management Service)

• Funded by Treasury Invest to Save Budget (ISB4)

• Develop 3 Pilot Projects

• Acute, Primary Care and Ambulance Trusts

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Aims of Initiative

• Establish the Effectiveness of Technology
• Reduce Crime and the Fear of Crime in Hospitals
• Develop Best Practice

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Birmingham Heartlands HospitalThe AE Department
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Background Information

• Built in 1994.
• Area approx. 2200m2.
• Over 100 members of staff.
• In 2002, 140,118 patients attended.
• Designated Major Incident Unit.
• Capable of receiving patients by helicopter.

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The AE Department
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Heartlands Data 2001

• 1717 incidents were recorded for the entire
  hospital
• Only 52 of these were clear crimes
• 11 of the incidents did not contain enough
  information to classify the event

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Heartlands Data 2002

• The number of incidents increased from 2001 but
  only 37 of the records could be classed as
  crimes.

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The Accident and Emergency Department

• The AE had the highest level of incidents in
  the hospital.
• In 2001 28 of crime over the the entire hospital
  occurred in the AE. In 2002 this proportion had
  risen to 31.
• Assault and aggressive behaviour was more evident
  here than in any other area of the hospital.
• As the AE has a high frequency of serious crimes
  the project will address reducing violent crime
  and the fear of crime in the AE department.

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Crime in the AE Department
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Current Crime Reduction Initiatives

• Security guards
• CCTV
• Change in treatment regimes
• NHS Zero Tolerance

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Spatial Analysis - Introduction

• Monday 19th May from 8am to 8pm
• Blakesley only open from 2pm to 8pm
• Analysis based on 3 thematics
• Surveillance (natural and artificial)
• Movement
• Wayfinding

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Spatial Analysis - Movement

• Paramedic entrance used more often than the
  patient entrance
• Large amount of movement in Maitland
• Clear separation between staff and visitors

837
879
510
146
1,101
1,735
1,900
1,138
194
1,050
646
855
1,512
989
681
482
344
562
285
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Spatial Analysis - External Wayfinding

• Patient entrance less prominent than paramedic
  entrance due to canopy
• Natural wayfinding is poor
• Signage is not obvious

Patient entrance
View from stairs
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Spatial Analysis - Internal Wayfinding

• No view of the reception from either entrance
• Visual link from both entrances into Maitland

View from paramedic entrance
View from patient entrance
View from paramedic entrance
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The Interventions
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Incident Database
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Incident Database 2
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Incident Database 3
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Access Control

• Will utilise RFID technology.
• Designed to meet the needs of the department and
  the hospital.
• Is aimed at reducing violent assaults and
  incidents of aggression.

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Access Control

• Control the clinical perimeter
• Secure the units not in use

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Current Reception

• No natural surveillance behind reception
• No visibility over the 2 external entrances

Relatives rooms
P
P
V

• No view over the Maitland entrance

Reception
Waiting Area
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New Reception

• Improved natural surveillance
• Enhance access control

Window

• Improved wayfinding
• Protect staff

Reception
Foyer
Waiting Area
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Signage

• External
• Remove signage around paramedic entrance
• Incorporate signage into new patient entrance
  foyer
• Internal
• Placed at decision points
• Indicate no entry routes
• Floor signage

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Additional CCTV

• Currently no surveillance over the rear and
  middle corridor. This is where the heaviest
  flows of people were observed.
• Cameras will be positioned as indicated by blue
  arrows.

• Improve surveillance and could provide
  evidence for investigation and prosecution.

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Early Findings

• Improve Incident Reporting system
• Improve Management Systems
• Improve Wayfinding for Patients and Visitors
• Introduce Access Control to better distinguish
  public spaces from Clinical areas

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Questions?