Visitors and patients at Wollongong and Shoalhaven hospitals are invited to provide feedback on a trial involving body-worn cameras used by security personnel. This initiative, part of a broader effort by NSW Health, aims to enhance safety for both healthcare workers and the community. The feedback survey is available to the public until November 30, 2023, allowing individuals who have visited either hospital to share their experiences.
The initiative began in February 2023 as part of a 12-month trial involving 15 public hospitals across New South Wales. A research team from Charles Sturt University, led by Dr Amanda Davies, is conducting an independent evaluation of the program’s effectiveness in deterring violence and aggression within hospital settings. Dr Davies emphasized that the use of body-worn cameras is not intended to replace existing de-escalation strategies but rather to assess their effectiveness in critical situations.
“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,”
Dr Davies stated. Her previous work includes evaluating body-worn camera trials for the NSW Police Force and the NSW Sheriff’s Office.
The survey, which ensures anonymity for respondents, aims to gather insights from those who have encountered the camera-equipped security staff. If a security guard responds to a violent or aggressive situation, the camera is activated to document the incident. The trial seeks to determine if these cameras can effectively prevent such occurrences.
Statistics from the Wollongong emergency department indicate that from July 2023 to June 2024, 12 percent of patients reported feeling threatened by others during their visit. This highlights the ongoing concern for safety within emergency healthcare settings.
The implementation of body-worn cameras is part of a comprehensive strategy to ensure safer environments for hospital staff and patients alike. As the trial progresses, ongoing feedback will play a crucial role in shaping future policies regarding security measures in public hospitals.
Those interested in participating in the survey can access it through the official channels provided by NSW Health. The results of this initiative may have significant implications for public health and safety measures in the region.
