Wollongong Hospital, where security staff, along with their colleagues at Shoalhaven Hospital, will trial body-worn cameras in a bid to improve safety. Photo: Planning NSW.
Security staff at Wollongong and Shoalhaven hospitals will take part in a 12-month trial of body-worn cameras in a bid to improve safety for staff, patients and visitors.
Up to 300 cameras will be in operation across at least nine NSW hospitals when the trial begins to test if they are an effective tool for security officers, as well as potentially collect vision that could be used as evidence in prosecutions.
The trial comes after a number of aggressive assaults on public hospital staff. Last month, three Westmead Hospital security staff and a male nurse were injured during an alleged assault.
NSW Health Minister and Keira MP Ryan Park said the 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.
“The trend in assaults in our hospitals is unacceptable and we are taking action.”
The Anderson report was handed down in 2020. Led by former NSW Police and health minister Peter Anderson, the report recommended a raft of changes and new strategies to improve security in public hospitals.
Recommendations which have been implemented include the establishment of the Safety and Security Improvement Unit within the Ministry of Health, the standardising of code black procedures and the enhanced support for patient experience officers.
NSW Health continues to monitor the implementation of the recommendations, which it says is at 97 per cent.
Health Services Union (HSU) Secretary Gerard Hayes welcomed the body camera trial, and said it was a good first step in recognising the risks that hospital security officers faced each day.
“However, there is more to be done from the Anderson report and I look forward to working with the Health Minister and NSW Government on this issue,” he said.
Mr Park said planning work was underway to allow the trial to start as soon as possible.
He said the use of body-worn cameras would be operated in a way to ensure the management of patients and staff and would only be activated if security officers believed there was a risk of harm to staff, patients or others.
The trial will be evaluated once it’s completed.
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