The hospital will be among nine across the state to assess whether the technology is effective at helping deter and de-escalate incidents in public hospitals. Up to 300 body-worn cameras will be in operation across the trial sites to test whether they are an effective tool for security staff to help prevent and manage violent situations, as well as potentially collect vision that could be used as evidence in prosecutions. Minister for Central Coast and Member for Wyong David Harris said planning work was underway to ensure privacy and security processes were in place to support the commencement of the body-worn camera trial as soon as possible.
“The use of body worn cameras will be done in a way that ensures the management of patient and staff privacy, with scenes only recorded if security officers believe there is a risk of harm to staff, patients, or others,” he said. The trial will be independently evaluated once completed. NSW Health facilities have a number of key strategies in place to ensure the safest possible environment for staff, patients and visitors.
These include: ongoing risk assessments to identify and manage emerging security risks; safety huddles to share information on patient-related safety risk with incoming workers; patient management plans that set out specific arrangements to keep both the patient and healthcare workers safe when providing care; multi-disciplinary Code Black (duress) response teams; workplaces designed to enhance line of sight for .
