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THE INEXTRICABLE LINK BETWEEN SECURITY, HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Published: Friday, July 5, 2019

WellnessDisabilityHealth Pharmaceutical TelecommunicationsSecurity MedicalSecurity

True healing, both physical and emotional, can only take place when patients are in a safe environment. Neurologically speaking, the sense of safety is a key ingredient that patients’ minds need in order to heal optimally. Any threat to that security hinders healing and growth.

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    True healing, both physical and emotional, can only take place when patients are in a safe environment. Neurologically speaking, the sense of safety is a key ingredient that patients’ minds need in order to heal optimally. Any threat to that security hinders healing and growth. Therefore, it is of vital importance that healthcare providers offer their patients peace of mind by conducting a security audit, employing expert security guards, and putting access control and CCTV in place.

    The detrimental effects of a threat to safety and its hinderance to health and wellness can be seen by recent incidents at hospitals in Mpumalanga. Not only do patients not feel safe but the healthcare providers employed by these institutions cannot perform at their peak, as they are working in constant fear of security threat.

    According to a report by Sowetan Live: “Nurses in Mpumalanga say they are tired of going to work in fear after some were robbed at a clinic near KwaMhlanga… only a week after a shootout at the Witbank hospital.” According to Mzwandile Shongwe, Provincial Spokesman for Denosa Nursing Union, there have been numerous security breaches at hospitals and clinics over the past few weeks leading up to the above-mentioned incident. Furthermore, National Denosa Spokesman, Sibongiseni Delihlazo, outlined that CCTV cameras, metal detectors and better security gates are needed in hospitals. 

    “You cannot separate health and safety,” explains Jacki Condon, Managing Director of Apache Security Services. “They are inextricably linked. Managers of healthcare facilities have a responsibility to their patients, as well as to their staff, to ensure that healing can happen, and care can be provided in a safe space conducive to recovery.” 

    Condon recommends a three-fold process in increasing security in healthcare facilities namely: security audits, CCTV cameras and guarding services. “Security audits are the best place to start,” explains Condon. “They give you the blueprint of your security needs so that protection can be offered in the most effective manner.” Security Audits are used to survey the current security level of a facility, evaluating where the biggest security threats lie and helping to establish a plan of action to minimise these threats. “This exposes what is needed is to develop accurate and cost-effective security measures to counter unique risks associated with each specific facility,” continues Condon.

    CCTV services ideally allow for live viewing and reaction services. These cameras offer ‘eyes everywhere’, giving users the opportunity to apprehend criminals in the act. CCTV services are also beneficial for evidence post-event. Guarding services are also of vital importance. Guards are not only highly trained to detect and diffuse security threats before they escalate, but the very presence of security guards is often enough to deter criminals from acting out their intended crimes.

    “The presence of CCTV cameras and security guards has the added benefit of putting healthcare facility staff and patients at ease. When they know that their security has been made a priority, they can focus on what really matters; healing,” concludes Condon.

     

    Issued by Perfect Word Consulting (Pty) Ltd

    For more information, please contact perfectword@trinitas.co.za

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