ADI Supporting Healthcare Installers to Prepare for Martyn's Law 

As Martyn’s Law (also known as the Protect Duty) moves closer to becoming legislation, healthcare and care providers must prepare to meet new security obligations designed to keep the public safe. Hospitals, NHS Trusts, and private care facilities — especially those with public access areas — are likely to fall within the scope of the new law, which requires them to implement proportionate protective measures against terrorism and other threats.
While the duty stems from tragic events such as the Manchester Arena attack, its focus is forward-looking: ensuring all publicly accessible venues assess and mitigate risk. For the healthcare and care sectors, where open access, patient sensitivity, and operational complexity intersect, preparation must be both practical and precise. ADI provides tailored, integrated solutions to help hospitals and care settings strengthen their security posture and meet their obligations under Martyn’s Law, without compromising care or accessibility.

Understanding Applicability Under Martyn’s Law

Martyn’s Law introduces a tiered approach to compliance:

• Standard Tier for premises with a public capacity of over 100 people
• Enhanced Tier for those with 800+ public capacity or higher risk profiles

Hospitals

NHS hospitals and large private hospitals with public-facing zones (e.g. A&E, outpatient clinics, cafes) will likely fall under the Enhanced Tier. These facilities will be required to undertake formal terrorism risk assessments, implement mitigation plans, and ensure that all staff are trained to respond effectively to potential threats.

Private Residential Care Settings

Care homes and supported living settings may fall under the Standard Tier, particularly if they:

• Are open to regular visitors or community engagement
• Operate above certain size or staffing thresholds
• Smaller, closed-access care homes may be exempt, but the principles of Martyn’s Law still offer a best-practice framework to improve safety and confidence.

What Will Be Required?

Organisations within scope must be able to demonstrate:

• Assessment of terrorist risk
• Reasonable and proportionate risk mitigation measures
• Effective training and communication for staff
• Plans for emergency response (e.g. lockdowns, evacuations, communication protocols)
• These obligations mean security is no longer a backend function. It must be visible, coordinated, and integrated with daily operations.

ADI Global’s Solutions for Healthcare and Care Facilities

ADI offers a broad, integrated range of technologies and services that map directly to the expected requirements of Martyn’s Law. These include physical security, fire safety, and emergency communication — all of which are essential for compliance and risk reduction.

1. Corridor and Atrium Safety
Hospital and care home corridors — especially those leading to public areas — are critical points of vulnerability. ADI supports these spaces with:

• High-definition video surveillance for real-time surveillance
• Motion sensors to detect unauthorised movement
• Beam smoke detectors are ideal for larger atrium spaces
• Emergency exit signage to aid safe evacuation
• Disabled refuge solutions for accessible, protected waiting areas
• Electromagnetic door holders hold doors open, improving access around a building, but automatically releases the doors when and alarm is triggered.
• Discreet panic buttons for immediate alerts

These combined technologies support both patient safety and fire evacuation planning, key areas of focus under Martyn’s Law.

2. Nurses’ StationsAs central hubs in both hospitals and care homes, nurses’ stations benefit from:

• CCTV coverage of adjacent corridors or wards
• Panic buttons for staff safety
• Nurse call systems for rapid patient communication
• Access control systems for protecting medication and sensitive records
• Emergency call points for manual activation of alarms and lockdown initiation

These measures help maintain a secure but responsive care environment

3. Reception and Waiting AreasPublic-facing areas,
such as A&E receptions or care home visitor lounges, are high-risk access points. ADI solutions include:

• Facial recognition and visitor management systems
• Access control barriers or interlocks
• Public address and voice alarm (PAVA) systems for emergency messaging
• Integrated lockdown triggers for high-risk incidents
• Combining monitoring with response capability ensures staff can act swiftly, even with limited personnel on-site.

4. Evacuation and Lockdown PreparednessMartyn’s Law places a strong emphasis on emergency readiness. ADI supports this with:

• Integrated Public Address and voice alarm systems for building-wide alerts
• Zonal lockdown solutions where full evacuation is impractical (e.g. critical care units)
• Smoke and fire detection systems linked to evacuation signage and audio prompts

These tools help facilities build and rehearse layered emergency response strategies — protecting life while meeting legal obligations.

Value-Added Services from ADI

Beyond hardware, ADI provides expert support to ensure security solutions are fit for purpose:

• Technical consultation to align technology with Martyn’s Law requirements
• Software integration and system design support tailored to healthcare workflows
• Staff training in technology use and emergency protocols
• Partnerships with trusted installers and service providers
• Whether upgrading a legacy CCTV system or designing a site-wide access control solution, ADI helps healthcare clients make informed, compliant decisions.

Planning for Compliance: Don’t Wait

Although Martyn’s Law is not yet in force, its direction is clear, and enforcement is expected soon. Organisations that act now will not only be ahead of the regulatory curve but will also demonstrate a strong duty of care to staff, patients, and visitors.

Preparation should include:

• Reviewing site risk profiles
• Auditing the current security infrastructure
• Identifying areas where new technology or procedures are required
• Planning training and drills tailored to real-life threat scenarios
• ADI can support every step, from assessment and planning to procurement and implementation.

Final Thought

Healthcare and care settings present unique challenges, but they are not exempt from risk. Martyn’s Law recognises that public safety is a shared responsibility. For hospitals and care homes, this means combining compassionate care with robust protection.
With a complete portfolio of integrated security and life safety solutions, ADI Global is here to help your organisation meet the moment with confidence, compliance, and care.

Contact ADI today to discuss how we can support your preparation for Martyn’s Law.  /services