Capricorn Security were delighted to attend the National Association for Healthcare Security conference at Birmingham University during the course of last week.

The two-day event was extremely insightful & focused on three main topics:

• Violence Prevention and Reduction
• Training and Education
• Protect UK and Counter Terrorism Resilience

Violence Prevention & Reduction:

Let’s go back to the height of Covid where the whole country united in support of our beloved NHS workers as people took to the streets each week. Fast forward a year or two and reports of abuse against NHS workers are at an all-time high.

By the time we’d reached the end of 2021, an NHS Staff Survey was reporting that 14.3% of workers had experienced at least one act of physical violence in that year – that’s an average of 200 violent attacks a day. In the ambulance sector, paramedics experienced an even higher volume of abuse which was 31.4%.

This particular segment of the NAHS conference was heavily focussed on this and exploring possible ways we can tackle this issue.

One suggestion was an increase in technology to aid our workers on the front line. Some of these included using the likes of body cams and PPE equipment to offer the best protection to our workforce in the NHS setting.

Another point highlighted at the conference was collecting and sharing data amongst the NHS network which related to abuse. By doing so, this in turn will raise awareness and help to pinpoint areas of weakness which those in that workforce can focus on help to improve various issues.

Training and Education:

In order to reduce violence and aggression shown against NHS staff, it is critical that staff understand the underlying causes of patient behaviour and how to respond appropriately to potential threats.

This part of the conference was significant due to the fact Paul Fullwood who is the Director of Inspections & Enforcement at the SIA, gave a talk on the Manchester Arena Inquiry as well as touching on the Coroner’s Inquest and lessons learned from that tragic night.

Protect UK and Counter Terrorism Resilience:

This led us on nicely into the third and final talking point of the conference which focused on protecting the UK & Counter terrorism resilience.

This tied in with some of the guest speakers who appeared at the conference including Figan Murray OBE, mother of Martyn Hett who at the age of 29 was tragically killed alongside 22 others at the Manchester Arena terrorist attack in 2017.

Figan gave an inspiring talk on resilience and strength in the face of adversity. Not long after her son’s death she completed a master’s degree in Counter terrorism which she passed with distinction. Due to all her good work with the Home Office and security sector she has recently been awarded an OBE for her contribution to Counter terrorism.

All in all it was a fantastic few days.

It was an event that provided us with invaluable knowledge which we will duly take forward with us into our day to day working lives.

The conference concluded on Thursday night with a black-tie Gala Dinner & NAHS award ceremony.

We really enjoyed networking & learning from alike individuals in the healthcare & security industry as we all work towards the same goals!

Well done to all the organisers for putting on a phenomenal event – we can’t wait to do it all over again next year.