Benefits Beyond Just Safety: The Strategic Value of Physical Security in Healthcare
With patients and healthcare workers in Aotearoa facing unprecedented risks to their personal safety, the need for a strong physical security presence has never been greater. But hospital security staff do more that just protect people from risks t their personal safety – they help create welcoming environment that put people at ease during sometimes very stressful situations
At FIRST, our specially trained security personnel are an essential and strategic asset in creating environments where people feel comfortable to come. Our role in healthcare goes beyond safety protocols—it’s about people. As trusted partners to healthcare facilities nationwide, our skilled and compassionate team works alongside doctors, nurses, and hospital staff to help care for our communities.
Providing a Safe, Calm and Welcoming Environment
Healthcare facilities are places where people are often at their most vulnerable - whether as patients, visitors or staff working on the frontline.
In these environments, security is about more than physical safety. Our Officers provide care and respect, supporting patients and their whānau as they navigate unfamiliar spaces while ensuring safe and considerate access control. Through professional and empathetic concierge services, our team creates a welcoming environment that is both warm and secure.
Caring for Those Who Care for Us
A calm, capable security presence in healthcare facilities allows hospital staff to focus on their critical frontline work with confidence. With health systems under pressure and incidents of violence against healthcare workers rising 30% between January 2023 and December 2024, staff have been calling for safer staffing levels and stronger security support.
Our Officers are carefully selected for their ability to recognise early warning signs and are extensively trained in de-escalation techniques that reduce harm, prevent confrontation, and preserve the dignity of everyone involved.
By managing risk and maintaining calm, we help ensure healthcare professionals can continue their vital work - caring for New Zealanders safely and securely.
Specialised Support to Secure Wellbeing
With years of experience of supporting healthcare facilities across Aotearoa, FIRST Security offers specialised services that are tailored to the complex, ever-changing needs of hospitals and health centres
Beyond de-escalation and procedural training, our Officers receive specialised training that prepares them for the unique challenges of healthcare environments. They help maintain calm and reassurance in high-pressure settings, supporting patients and their whānau while working alongside clinical teams as part of the wider care network.
Our teams are trained in providing surge support for Emergency Departments, staffing cover for in-house security, as well as mobile patrols and alarm response to safeguard facilities.
While advanced technology underpins our work, it is the presence of our people—professional, empathetic, and responsive—that makes the critical difference.
Because supporting healthcare facilities is about more than physical safety – it’s about creating the conditions for care to thrive.
If you are seeking healthcare security that truly cares, get in touch with FIRST Security today.
