Traffic management of NHS Nightingale Hospital Bristol is in private hands under the CSAS scheme. Similar to other Nightingale sites across the UK, the site was opened via video link by HRH Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, on Monday, April 27 to provide up to 300 intensive care beds for coronavirus patients.
The hospital, based at University of West of England (UWE Bristol) Frenchay campus, is one of seven Nightingale Hospitals, as extra capacity for local hospitals should they be needed during the coronavirus outbreak.
Coventry-based Cash and Traffic Management (CTM) has deployed its staff at Frenchay, with permission of the local, Avon and Somerset Police Chief Constable under the Community Safety Accreditation Scheme (CSAS), as under section 40 of the Police Reform Act 2002.
Assessing of private sector companies seeking approval to give CSAS services is carried out on behalf of the National Police Chiefs’ Council by Police Crime Prevention Initiatives (PCPI), the police-owned company that works on behalf of UK police on various crime prevention work. PCPI carries out the checks of whether companies are ‘fit and proper’ to exercise CSAS powers and then makes recommendations to chief constables in the area the scheme will operate.
As under the 2002 Act, chief constables in England and Wales decide whether to accredit employed people – typically security guards, wardens and traffic management officers – already working in roles that contribute to community safety, and grant powers.
PCPI has assessed more than 120 private sector companies seeking to run a CSAS. The scheme, says PCPI, adds to the number of businesses able to deliver services that reduce low-level crime and disorder while assisting police by easing demands on them.
CSAS powers in use at the Nightingale Hospital Bristol include the power to control traffic for purposes, other than escorting a load of exceptional dimensions, and the power to require the name and address of a driver or pedestrian who fails to follow appropriate directions.
Guy Ferguson, Chief Executive Officer, PCPI, said: “In these challenging times it is vital we help each other in any way we can. The CSAS initiative is an excellent route to swiftly provide trained and accredited staff to assist in policing duties, which enables warranted police officers to be utilised elsewhere.”
PCPI Compliance Manager, Ken Meanwell, who leads on CSAS, said: “CSAS accredited officers are now accepted as part of the extended policing family and make a valuable contribution towards public reassurance, reducing crime and disorder and traffic management at events.”
CTM’s Kath Sprosson, Head of CSAS Operations and Development, said: “CTM is proud to be supporting NHS Nightingale Hospital Bristol by delivering ongoing parking and access control operations through our CSAS Police Accredited Traffic Officers (PATOs) and the operational management team. Our team has supported the NHS and ambulance teams in devising, developing and operating the traffic plan to take into account changing priorities during the build, and now the operational phase of the hospital.”
Avon and Somerset Chief Constable Andy Marsh said: “The COVID-19 pandemic has generated a great deal pressure on policing and the wider public services. I am pleased that the CSAS scheme can be used to enable trained and accredited people to assist in a programme of work as important as the brilliant Nightingale Hospital – a project our communities can be immensely proud of.”
Some NHS Nightingale Hospital Bristol background
Work began at the beginning of April to convert the exhibition and conference centre on UWE Bristol’s Frenchay campus in Coldharbour Lane on the outskirts of Bristol, into a 300-bed hospital. Accommodation that is not currently being used by students is also being made available for hospital staff on Frenchay campus for doctors, nurses and other key workers.
It’s expected to remain operational over the summer and the site is planned to be returned to the university ready for the next academic year in the autumn. To ensure health and safety is protected, the University is operating clearly defined separate zones across the campus to ensure hospital staff and patients are separated for UWE Bristol staff and students on site at all times.
