“Even one is too many”: Northern Trust takes stand against abuse with body-cam trial

A 12-week pilot introducing body-worn cameras for healthcare staff in the Emergency Department at Antrim Area Hospital has been approved and is set to begin in September, following strong public support.

The decision was confirmed today (Thursday 26 June) by the Board of the Northern Health and Social Care Trust, after a public consultation found that 91% of respondents backed the plan.

The initiative is designed to reduce incidents of violence and aggression directed at healthcare professionals and improve safety for both staff and patients.

A protective measure amid rising abuse

The move follows growing concern about the treatment of frontline NHS staff, particularly in high-pressure environments like Emergency Departments.

Chair of the Trust Board, Anne O’Reilly, commented on the troubling increase in unacceptable behaviour towards staff:

“Sadly, we have become accustomed to reading headlines about health and social care staff being attacked or subjected to wholly unacceptable abuse.

“We know that the vast majority of people who attend our Emergency Departments are respectful of our staff and only a very small number engage in unacceptable behaviour – but even one is one too many.”

O’Reilly added that while it is “disappointing” to have to consider such measures, the Trust hopes the cameras will “act as a deterrent and make people stop and think about their behaviour”.

Part of a wider strategy to tackle aggression

The pilot ties into the Department of Health’s broader framework aimed at tackling violence and aggression towards healthcare workers, launched last year under the banner: “Violence and aggression. It’s not part of the job.”

The Northern Trust has also formed a dedicated MOVA (Management of Violence and Aggression) working group and created a staff support toolkit to help managers and teams affected by workplace abuse.

Audrey Harris, the Trust’s Director of Medicine and Emergency Medicine, emphasised the urgent need to protect staff:

“We owe it to our staff to do all we can to address violence and aggression in the workplace.

Emergency Departments are always extremely busy and staff are working in very challenging circumstances under huge pressure… They should not have to deal with or tolerate any form of abuse; nor should patients have to witness those kinds of unacceptable behaviours.”

How the cameras will work

The cameras will only be activated in specific circumstances, such as when a situation escalates, and staff must inform patients that they are being recorded. Privacy, data protection, dignity and human rights have been central to the planning, the Trust confirmed.

Clear signage will be placed throughout the Emergency Department during the trial to notify patients and visitors of the initiative.

Next steps and evaluation

The pilot will run for 12 weeks, involving selected healthcare staff at Antrim Area Hospital. Once concluded, it will be subject to a full evaluation, with the findings presented to the Trust Board for review.

Statistics published by the Department of Health in 2023 revealed more than 50,000 attacks on healthcare workers across Northern Ireland over five years, with over 6,600 incidents occurring within the Northern Trust area.