Hospital and Healthcare Security Services
Hospital security services protect patients, visitors and staff while keeping healthcare sites open and accessible. Our SIA-licensed officers work at entrances, in reception and waiting areas, on wards when requested, and across car parks and grounds, with training in conflict management and an understanding of how clinical teams work.
We provide healthcare security for hospitals, clinics, surgeries and care settings across Sussex, Surrey and London from our base in Crawley.
SIA-licensed officers
Reliable & Vetted Security Staff
What Hospital Security Covers
Healthcare sites have to stay open to the public, often at every hour, while protecting people who may be unwell, distressed or vulnerable. Staff face verbal abuse and physical assault, medicines and equipment are targets for theft, and busy entrances make it hard to know who is on site.
Hospital security officers help clinical teams keep control of the environment, so staff can focus on patients. Depending on your site, our officers can provide:
- Entrance, reception and waiting area security
- Support for staff facing aggressive or abusive behaviour
- Access control for wards, pharmacies and restricted areas
- Patrols of corridors, car parks and grounds
- Support for lone workers and late shifts
- Response to incidents and calls for assistance
- Incident reports in the format your managers use
Free site survey for hospitals, clinics and care sites across Sussex, Surrey and London.
Who Healthcare Security Suits
We tailor healthcare security to the type of site and the people who use it:
- Hospitals: main entrances, emergency departments, wards and multi-storey car parks, where footfall is high and tensions can rise quickly.
- Private hospitals and clinics: a calm, professional reception presence that reassures patients and visitors.
- GP surgeries and health centres: support for reception staff, opening and closing, and cover for late clinics.
- Mental health and care settings: officers who use de-escalation first and work to your care policies.
- Pharmacies, laboratories and stores: access control and protection for medicines, equipment and records.
Security That Supports Patient Care
In a healthcare setting, the way an officer behaves matters as much as what they do. Our officers are briefed to treat patients and relatives with patience and respect, to protect patient privacy and dignity, and to work under the direction of clinical staff when an incident involves a patient. Physical intervention is a last resort, used only within the law and your policies.
We agree uniform, positioning and procedures with your managers, so security is visible where it deters trouble and discreet where patients need calm.
How Our Hospital Security Service Works
1. Free site survey and risk review. We look at entrances, departments, car parks and the incidents your staff have reported, and talk to your managers about the times and places that cause most concern.
2. Assignment instructions. We write clear instructions for each post: duties, patrol routes, who officers report to, how they support clinical staff and how incidents are escalated to your managers, the police or other services.
3. Officer briefing. Officers are briefed on your site, fire and emergency procedures, safeguarding expectations and your policies on restraint and lone working before their first shift.
4. Reporting and review. Every incident is logged in an agreed format, so you have the records your health and safety team or insurer may ask for. We review cover with you regularly.
Combining Officers With Technology
On-site officers work best alongside the systems you already have. We can link officers with CCTV monitoring, manage access control to restricted areas and provide mobile patrols for outbuildings and car parks. For main entrances and reception desks, see our front of house security.
What to Look For in a Healthcare Security Provider
Before you appoint a provider, it is worth asking:
- Are officers licensed for the work? Officers supplied under a contract for services need the right SIA licence. You can check any officer on the SIA's public register of licence holders.
- What conflict management training have officers had? Ask how they are trained to de-escalate, and when, if ever, they would use physical intervention.
- How will officers work with clinical staff? The provider should explain who directs officers during an incident involving a patient.
- How are incidents recorded? Reports should fit your own incident reporting process.
- Who is your contact? You should have a named manager who knows your site.
For more on checking licences, read what SIA licensing means when you hire security.
Healthcare Security Across Sussex, Surrey and London
We are based at Manor Royal in Crawley and provide healthcare security across the region, including Redhill and Reigate, Haywards Heath and Burgess Hill, Horsham, East Grinstead and Brighton and Hove. For static officers in Crawley, see manned guarding in Crawley.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about hospital and healthcare security.
What do hospital security officers do?
Hospital security officers keep patients, visitors and staff safe and help the site run smoothly. Typical duties include staffing entrances and waiting areas, supporting staff facing aggressive or abusive behaviour, controlling access to restricted areas, patrolling corridors, car parks and grounds, and answering calls for help. Every duty is set out in assignment instructions agreed with your managers before officers start.
Do hospital security officers need an SIA licence?
Officers supplied by a security company under a contract for services need an SIA licence for the work they do, usually a security guard licence. Security staff employed directly by a hospital or trust do not usually need one, although many employers still ask for it. You can check any licence on the SIA's public register, as our SIA licensing guide explains.
How do your officers handle aggressive patients or visitors?
Our officers are trained in conflict management and use de-escalation first: calm communication, giving people space and involving the right staff. When an incident involves a patient, officers work under the direction of the clinical team. Physical intervention is a last resort, used only when it is lawful, necessary and in line with your policies, and every incident is recorded.
Can you provide security for a GP surgery or clinic?
Yes. Smaller healthcare sites often need a reassuring presence at reception, support at opening and closing, or cover for late clinics. We can provide a single officer for set hours or regular mobile patrols, and adjust cover if incidents increase. A free site survey helps us recommend the right level of cover for your site and budget.
How much do healthcare security services cost?
Cost depends on the number of officers, the hours of cover, the licences required and any extra duties such as access control or patrols. We provide an itemised quote after a free site survey, so you can see exactly what you are paying for. Our security guard cost guide explains typical UK rates.
Talk to Us About Healthcare Security
Tell us about your site and the problems your staff are facing, and we will arrange a free site survey. Contact us for a free, no-obligation quote.