Body camera trial for Wyong Hospital

The NSW Government will undertake a 12-month trial of body-worn cameras for security staff at Wyong hospital to improve safety for staff, patients, and visitors.

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 staff; lockdown arrangements including secure entry points between public and clinical areas and secure perimeters for facilities; personal mobile and fixed duress alarms for staff to ensure they can summon assistance when necessary; CCTV and effective lighting to ensure visibility; and procedures to enhance car park security, including regular security patrols.

The trial is part of the ongoing implementation of recommendations from the Anderson Review of Hospital Security.

It follows implementation of other recommendations to improve hospital security including: the establishment of the Safety and Security Improvement Unit within the Ministry of Health; the standardising of code black procedures; and the enhanced support from government for the role of patient experience officers.

NSW Health continues to monitor the implementation of the recommendations, which is currently at 97 per cent.

Minister for Health Ryan Park said the safety of healthcare staff and patients was a priority and the NSW Government had a zero-tolerance approach to violence and aggression in public hospitals.

“The body-worn camera trial is one of several actions NSW Health has taken to address the recommendations of the Anderson Report and demonstrates our ongoing commitment to continuing to improve security practices to keep staff and patients safe,” he said.