NHS Security: Bed Watch Service
Lingwood Security Management work in partnership with the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay to provide a bed watching service.
Breakdown of Responsibility
- The security teams check all locked departments and wards on a daily basis to a pre-check audit sheet for each specific site, if required to do so by the Duty Manager.
- The security team work with, assist and help all on-site car parking staff with their duties on access, lockdown and monitoring if systems if authorized by the Duty Manager.
- The security team assists in requesting staff and members of the public not to smoke on hospital premises or adjacent to any property if authorised by the Duty Manager.
- The security team undertakes all relevant mandatory training required by the client (i.e. fire training, additional holding, conflict management) prior to commencement on site, or as an ongoing process as per a risk assessment.
- The bed watch team possess good verbal and non-verbal skills. If a patient is too dangerous to deal with as a single operative, the Police are called, or Lingwood Security Control is informed by the ward to request another officer to assist.
- If there is a requirement to escort patient to another hospital, and they are dangerous to deal with, Lingwood Security Control is informed by the ward to request another officer to assist.
- The security manager always informs the client in advance of the names of any change in personnel 24 hours prior to the shift commencing (if reasonable to do so).
- All security personnel wear appropriate uniform on site (trousers, polo shirt, V-neck jumper, black shoes, ID badge of company and security pass or badge approved by the Trust).
- All security personnel wear appropriate PPE/coats and hats for external patrols where required. High viz vests are worn inside at all times.
The remit of the service is to maintain the safety of patients, staff and visitors at the local hospitals at all times.
Our security personnel have a vital role in ensuring that the hospital environment is a safe and welcoming one and accessible for patients, visitors and staff.
As part of the service provided, we also protect the buildings and important, often valuable equipment housed within them.
As part of our commitment to offering this specialist service, our Security Manager Adam Ross attends a meeting called the NHS Violent Marker group. The aim of the risk of violence marker group is to help alert NHS staff to individuals who pose or could pose a risk of violence and enable them to reduce this risk. See here for further information about the Violent Marker Group…
How The Bed Watch Service Works:
In the first instance, the NHS will call our 24 hour control room. The control room operator will then assign a fully inducted guard to the bed watch shift and they are despatched to the hospital location.
Once a bed watch shift is active, we continue to work on it until it is stood down. A full handover takes place whenever a guard takes over a shift and is recorded in the log book.
A&E Patrols
In addition to specific bed watches, Lingwood Security Management also patrol the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Wards every night. Our A&E Security Supervisor patrols the wards, helps with any specific bed watches and checks on the individual guards carrying out bed watches.
The Bed Watch Team
Our team of bed watch officers each hold an SIA Licence and are highly trained in diffusing potential difficult situations and what to do in case of an emergency. We are now making it mandatory for all staff to complete Counter Terrorism Awareness Training and Dementia Training as part of their professional and personal development. If you are interested in joining our team of Bed Watch Officers then please contact our HR Department.
