SECURITY staff at Port Macquarie Base Hospital (PMBH) will wear body worn cameras as part of a 12-month trial to reduce incidents of violence and aggression.
The cameras will be activated whenever there is a risk of harm to staff, patients and visitors.
In the most serious cases, the footage may be used as evidence.
Port Macquarie joins Lismore and Westmead in being the latest added to the trial, which began at Royal North Shore Hospital in St Leonards last December and has been extended to 15 hospitals across the state.
Health Minister Ryan Park said the personal safety of staff and patients was his top priority.
“Any instances of aggression towards staff will not be tolerated, and appropriate action will always be taken against individuals who behave in such a manner,” he said.
An independent evaluation at the end of the trial will determine how effective the cameras are at deterring and de-escalating violent incidents.
“I look forward to the results of this trial which will provide insight into how we can reduce instances of violence and aggression in our public hospitals.”
Member for Port Macquarie Rob Dwyer has welcomed the trial.
“With increasing violence occurring in hospitals putting frontline staff and patients in danger, I fully support the introduction of body worn cameras for security staff,” he told News Of The Area.
“It is such a shame that these measures have to be introduced, but if this is what it takes to improve safety in our hospitals then bring it on.”
The measure is part of the ongoing implementation of recommendations from the Anderson Review of Hospital Security, which was completed more than five years ago.
Undertaken by former health and police minister Peter Anderson, the review led to the creation of a dedicated Safety and Security Improvement Unit within the Ministry of Health.
It also found a “disturbing” increase in violence and aggression in NSW public hospitals, and evidence that incidents were “under-reported” because staff lacked the time, or feared there would be repercussions.
People presenting to Emergency Departments with drug, alcohol and mental health issues represent the greatest challenge.
In announcing the trial for Port Macquarie Base Hospital, NSW Health said other key strategies were in place across the state’s hospitals to improve safety. These include:
– ongoing risk assessments
– safety huddles to share information with incoming staff
– patient management plans
– multi-disciplinary Code Black (duress) response teams
– workplaces designed to enhance line of sight for staff and reduce entrapment
– lockdown arrangements including secure entry points between public and clinical areas and secure perimeters
– personal mobile and fixed duress alarms for staff to ensure they can summon assistance when necessary.
– closed circuit television (CCTV) and effective lighting to ensure visibility
– enhanced car park security, including regular security patrols.
By Sue STEPHENSON
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