Maintain pressure on reforms to protect NHSCCTV to be trialled in A&E departments
The Welsh Assembly has announced that the use of CCTV cameras are to be piloted at four A&E departments from December.
The systems are intended to gather evidence to support the prosecution of members of the public who are violent and aggressive against NHS staff.
The trial sites will be Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil, Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport, West Wales General Hospital in Carmarthen and Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor.
The cameras will also be trialled in five ambulances based at Blackweir Ambulance Station, Cardiff. The 12-month trial is backed by £300,000.
Ms Hart said: “In undertaking this pilot, absolute priority will be given to ensuring patient privacy and dignity, involving close liaison with doctors, nurses and patient representatives. Clear signage will be displayed to ensure public awareness of CCTV.”
RCN Wales director Tina Donnelly said: “This pilot scheme will send a strong message of encouragement to the public who support nurses and other NHS staff, of deterrence to potential offenders and of support to front-line nurses and staff who consistently report feeling that the government does not take this seriously.”
The announcement follows the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Welsh Assembly and the four Welsh Police forces to allow closer working between the police and the NHS in Wales in the investigation of allegations of violence towards NHS staff.
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Readers' comments (1)
Anonymous | 8-Mar-2010 1:17 pm
How do patients who are very sick, aggressive, violent and lack emotional and impulse control access the emergency health services if they require treatment?
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