The vulnerability of public spaces: challenges for UK hospitals under the 'new' terrorist threat

Fischbacher-Smith, D. and Fischbacher-Smith, M. (2013) The vulnerability of public spaces: challenges for UK hospitals under the 'new' terrorist threat. Public Management Review, 15(3), pp. 330-343. (doi: 10.1080/14719037.2013.769851)

Abstract

This article considers the challenges for hospitals in the United Kingdom that arise from the threats of mass-casualty terrorism. Whilst much has been written about the role of health care as a rescuer in terrorist attacks and other mass-casualty crises, little has been written about health care as a victim within a mass-emergency setting. Yet, health care is a key component of any nation's contingency planning and an erosion of its capabilities would have a significant impact on the generation of a wider crisis following a mass-casualty event. This article seeks to highlight the nature of the challenges facing elements of UK health care, with a focus on hospitals both as essential contingency responders under the United Kingdom's civil contingencies legislation and as potential victims of terrorism. It seeks to explore the potential gaps that exist between the task demands facing hospitals and the vulnerabilities that exist within them.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Fischbacher-Smith, Professor Moira and Fischbacher-Smith, Professor Denis
• Authors: Fischbacher-Smith, D., and Fischbacher-Smith, M.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > Adam Smith Business School > Management
• Journal Name: Public Management Review
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• ISSN: 1471-9037
• ISSN (Online): 1471-9045
• Published Online: 27 March 2013
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2013 Taylor and Francis
• First Published: First published in Public Management Review 15(3):330-343
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
47989	1	Under dark skies: Port cities, extreme events, multi-scale processes and the vulnerability of controls around counter terrorism	Denis Fischbacher-Smith	Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)	EP/G004889/1	BUS - MANAGEMENT