The hospital’s original CCTV system of only 12 cameras now boasts more than 200. The new system allows security staff to protect staff, patients and visitors by deterring and detecting crime and antisocial behaviour and responding to incidents, he says.

The original purpose-built security control room was provided in A&E in 1994. At that time it was recognised there was a need for a full-time security presence at the Royal Sussex County Hospital and in A&E in particular.

In 1994 the original CCTV system’s twelve cameras were recorded on to VHS tapes. These had to be changed every twelve hours.

A new purpose built control room was built in A&E in 1999. This was part of the Phase 1 redevelopment of the Royal Sussex County Hospital, which included an enlarged A&E department. In the new centre, security staff monitored 64 cameras and numerous personal attack alarms.

The following year, the department switched from recording on tapes to using digital recorders.

"This simplified security operations," Mark explains. "We no longer had to keep track on the 800 video tapes we managed and it allowed for fast review of incidents. "Digital recording allowed the department to burn CCTV evidence to CD and then hand it over to the police for evidential purposes.

"By 2005, the CCTV system had grown to 175 cameras and we had physically run out of space in the control room. There were two other factors which necessitated the relocation of the control room. The first was the requirement to accommodate the additional 32 cameras from the new children’s hospital when it moves on site in 2007. The second was construction of the new Urgent Care Centre at the front of the A&E Department, which required the space currently occupied by the control room.

"In addition there was a requirement to provide a rest room facility and a separate space to accommodate the extensive amount of CCTV equipment. The area on level 4 of the tower block underneath A&E x-ray was then identified as a possible location.

Capital development project officer Scott Marlow, who worked up plans for the new location, says, "The location selected posed significant issues in order to create an environment suitable for the new CCTV Suite. However, as can be seen, it is a vast improvement and there is now scope for expanding the system in line with developments for the foreseeable future.

"Security staff have been very positive about their new facilities and it is far more advanced than most systems you will find in many other trusts. Keeping the control room and recording equipment segregated affords more practical maintenance and better security than could previously have been achieved."

Mark adds: "The new control room is significantly larger than its predecessor. A brand new state-of-the-art recording and picture management system has been installed, which gives much greater flexibility of operation to the security staff.

"The provision of the new control room continues to demonstrate the trust’s commitment to protecting it staff and patients and safeguarding its premises and property."