Hospitals

Use of Metal Detection in the NHS and UK Health Sector
Security is a growing concern in NHS hospitals and healthcare facilities, particularly in emergency departments and mental health units, where the risk of violence or smuggled weapons is higher.
Integrating walk-through metal detectors and handheld scanning devices helps prevent incidents while ensuring a safe environment for patients and staff.
Additionally, metal detection equipment is increasingly used in forensic mental health units, where thorough screening is necessary for patient and staff safety. In some NHS trusts, these detectors are also deployed at hospital entrances as part of broader security strategies to protect healthcare workers and visitors from potential threats.
Metal Detectors for Hospitals: Walkthrough, handheld or both?
Enhancing Patient and Visitor Safety with Metal Detection in the NHS
Ensuring the safety of patients and visitors is a top priority in NHS hospitals, especially in emergency departments and mental health units, where the risk of violence or concealed weapons is more significant.
Introducing walk-through metal detectors and handheld scanning devices is crucial in preventing security threats while maintaining a safe and welcoming environment.
Many NHS trusts have already adopted these measures, positioning detectors at key entry points to prevent unauthorised items from entering healthcare facilities.
This proactive approach strengthens security and reassures patients, visitors, and staff.






Walk Through Metal Detectors
- Main Entrance: The main entrance is the primary access point for patients, visitors, and staff. Installing a walk-through metal detector at this location provides an essential security checkpoint, helping to prevent unauthorised or potentially harmful items from entering the facility. This ensures a safer environment for everyone within the hospital.
- Emergency Department: Given emergency departments' fast-paced and often high-stress nature, security must be adequate and non-disruptive.
Our walk-through metal detectors allow for swift yet thorough screening, helping to protect patients, visitors, and medical staff without delaying urgent care.
Public Entrances: In more extensive healthcare facilities with multiple public entry points, installing walk-through metal detectors at each entrance strengthens the hospital’s overall security measures, ensuring a consistent and robust approach to safety.
MRI Screening: It is vital to ensure patients do not carry metallic objects before an MRI scan. Walk-through metal detectors can provide full-body screening to identify prohibited metal items, enhancing patient safety and protecting sensitive medical equipment from potential damage.




Garrett Paragon Features:
- Simultaneous Detection of Multiple Targets
- ADA-Compliant Crosspiece Available
Easy to Install - Fully Mobile
- Complete Security Checkpoint Kits Available
- Audio and Visual Alarms
Garrett Superscanner V Features:
- Ultimate Sensitivity
Pinpoint Threats and Metallic Objects - Self-Calibrating
Highly Portable Scanners - Audio, Visual, and Vibrate Alarms


Hand-Held Metal Detectors in NHS and UK Healthcare Security
Compact, efficient, and highly precise, our hand-held metal detectors provide an essential layer of security in NHS hospitals and healthcare facilities.
These portable devices are ideal for secondary screening and on-the-spot checks, particularly when installing larger walk-through detectors, which is impractical.
Their flexibility ensures patient and visitor safety is upheld without causing unnecessary delays or disruptions.
Use of Metal Detection in the NHS and UK Health Sector
In NHS hospitals and healthcare facilities, security is a growing concern, particularly in emergency departments and mental health units where the risk of violence or smuggled weapons is higher.
Integrating walk-through metal detectors and handheld scanning devices helps prevent incidents while ensuring a safe environment for patients and staff.
Additionally, metal detection equipment is increasingly used in forensic mental health units, where thorough screening is necessary for patient and staff safety.
In some NHS trusts, these detectors are also deployed at hospital entrances as part of broader security strategies to protect healthcare workers and visitors from potential threats.
Spot Checks for Enhanced Security
Security personnel must sometimes conduct swift, targeted screenings due to suspicion or as part of routine random checks. Hand-held metal detectors enable healthcare staff and security officers to perform these checks discreetly and efficiently, ensuring a safe environment for patients, visitors, and medical teams without interfering with hospital operations.
Emergency Departments
Given the high-pressure nature of emergency departments, security measures must be quick and adaptable. Hand-held detectors provide a non-intrusive yet effective way to screen individuals before they receive urgent medical attention. This ensures that no unauthorised or dangerous items are brought into critical care areas while maintaining smooth patient flow.
Isolated Checkpoints and High-Security Areas
Certain areas within NHS hospitals and healthcare settings require additional security measures. VIP wards, research laboratories, and facilities housing sensitive medical equipment can benefit from hand-held metal detectors to prevent unauthorised access and ensure that prohibited items are not introduced into restricted zones.
Secondary Screening for Walk-Through Checkpoints
Walk-through metal detectors offer a robust first line of defence, but hand-held scanners are an essential complementary tool. These devices allow security teams to pinpoint and identify specific metallic objects detected by walk-through scanners accurately, enhancing overall security while minimising disruption for patients and visitors.
Applications of Hand-Held Metal Detectors in Healthcare
Hand-held metal detectors play a crucial role in a variety of healthcare settings.
In mental health units, they help ensure that patients do not bring in potentially harmful objects, reducing risks to themselves and others.
In maternity wards and paediatric departments, security screening helps maintain a safe and controlled environment for vulnerable patients and their families.
Additionally, forensic medical facilities, where contraband risks are higher, rely on these detectors to uphold strict security protocols.


Professional and Impartial Security Solutions with Regton
At Regton, we are more than just a supplier - we are your trusted and committed partners in your safety.
Our approach is rooted in professionalism, impartiality, and expert advice.
We ensure that healthcare facilities receive the most effective security solutions tailored to their needs.
As we look to the future, our dedication to excellence remains steadfast. We focus on safeguarding every emergency department, every healthcare professional, and every visitor in a hospital environment.
Metal detectors act as crucial frontline defences, efficiently identifying potential threats and reinforcing the overall security of staff, patients, and visitors.
Contact us today to discuss your security metal detector requirements.