Visitors and patients at Wollongong and Shoalhaven hospitals are invited to provide feedback on a body-worn camera trial aimed at enhancing safety for staff and the community. This initiative is part of a broader 12-month trial involving 15 public hospitals across New South Wales (NSW), which commenced in February 2023.
The evaluation, commissioned by NSW Health and led by Dr. Amanda Davies from Charles Sturt University, seeks to determine if body-worn cameras can effectively deter violent or aggressive incidents within hospital settings. Dr. Davies emphasized that the cameras are intended to complement existing de-escalation practices rather than replace them.
“The purpose of the trial is to evaluate whether body-worn cameras are effective in de-escalating incidents where there is an imminent risk to safety,” explained Dr. Davies, who previously contributed to similar evaluations for both the NSW Police Force and the NSW Sheriff’s Office.
The feedback survey is open to any member of the public who has visited one of the participating hospitals and will remain accessible until November 30, 2023. Responses to the survey will be anonymous, ensuring that participants can share their thoughts freely.
Trial Implementation and Expected Outcomes
The operational framework of the trial stipulates that security personnel will activate the cameras during aggressive or violent encounters that pose a threat to staff, patients, or others. By recording these incidents, the trial aims to assess the cameras’ effectiveness in both deterring and de-escalating potential violence.
Data collected from Wollongong Hospital’s emergency department indicates that from July 2023 to June 2024, approximately 12 percent of patients reported feeling threatened by other patients. This statistic underscores the urgent need for enhanced safety measures in hospital environments.
By gathering insights from hospital visitors and patients, the evaluation team hopes to better understand the community’s perspective on the use of body-worn cameras in healthcare settings. This feedback will be crucial in shaping future policy decisions regarding security measures in hospitals.
The trial not only seeks to improve safety within the hospitals but also aims to foster a sense of security among patients and staff. As the evaluation progresses, the insights gained will provide valuable information on the effectiveness of body-worn cameras as a tool for managing safety in healthcare scenarios.
For those interested in contributing to this important initiative, the survey can be completed online, providing an opportunity to voice opinions on a measure that could significantly impact hospital safety.
