Medical staff in Manchester have welcomed the introduction of body worn cameras in emergency departments as part of a trial to tackle an increase in violent and abusive behaviour.
The three-month trial is taking place at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust which runs emergency departments at three of its hospitals where the body cameras will be trialled: Manchester Royal Infirmary, Wythenshawe Hospital, and North Manchester General Hospital.
The cameras are the size of a smart phone and will be worn by designated clinical staff to deter violence or threatening behaviour, creating a safer environment for both staff and other patients.
The introduction of body worn cameras follows a 31% increase in reports of abusive behaviour since 2021 including physical assaults, verbal abuse and other anti-social behaviour.
Mark Cubbon, Group Chief Executive Officer for MFT, said: “We have not reached the decision to introduce body-worn cameras lightly, but the safety and wellbeing of our staff, patients and visitors will always come first.
“These cameras will offer protection by deterring violence, abuse, and unacceptable behaviour, letting our staff focus on treating patients in safe surroundings.
“Our colleagues go above and beyond every day to support our patients in often trying circumstances. While we understand being in hospital can be a frightening and frustrating time for patients and their families, abuse of staff is unacceptable.”
The cameras record both video and audio but will only be turned on by staff if they feel that they are at risk of verbal or abusive behaviour. Posters in the trial areas will inform patients and visitors of the use of the cameras.
A nurse, who wished to remain anonymous, spoke about her experience of being assaulted which left her with serious injuries and requiring time away from work.
After being made aware of a patient exhibiting aggressive behaviour, she contacted security and went to check on other patients before she was assaulted. She said:
“I came back into the main bay and saw that the patient was in bed, so I started to pick up the mess. Security had been contacted and they were on the way, but quick as a flash I heard the patient say something. He’d gotten out of bed and the next thing I knew he’d headbutted me with such force that it threw me back a few feet onto another bed.
“It could happen to anybody at any time. I just remember the pain, and the ringing in my ears. It was a horrible sound, and I couldn’t hear.
“I thought I’d be ok, but I ended up with post-concussion syndrome which led to vertigo and feeling really dizzy. I couldn’t look up or down and I couldn’t pick my grandson up. It had a massive effect on me, and I ended up staying off work for over four months.”
Dr Rachael Jenner is Associate Medical Director for Quality and Safety at MFT. Over her 25-year career in emergency medicine she has been assaulted twice by patients.
On both occasions the patient had reduced mental capacity which may have influenced their behaviour. She said:
“One was a patient with a significant mental health emergency, the other was a patient whose injuries meant they were hypoxic, not getting enough oxygen to their brain which influenced their behaviour.
“The rational part of my brain and my medical knowledge understands that these people, on both occasions when I was hit, perhaps didn’t intend to do it and aren’t bad people, but when someone slaps you in the face that rational understanding doesn’t make you feel any better.
“As a person who’s been assaulted the shock of that assault, the physical effects of it, the pain and distress as a human being is still very powerful and I can still vividly remember those episodes and I certainly needed support at that time.”
Dr Jenner believes there is now a more understanding culture for colleagues who have been assaulted, and better processes in place to provide formal support:
“We’re learning to be more sensitive and supportive when these situations happen and to recognise a colleague’s individual and psychological needs. That might be just a bit of time and space, it might be having a cup of tea and talking it over with a colleague.
“But we also recognise that some people are impacted by this and need more formal, professional support and we are fortunate that within our organisation we have access to counselling if we need it.
“We’re still human beings and recognising that our needs, when something difficult and distressing happens, are important and that we may sometimes need external support is important.”
MFT has recently reviewed its policy on reporting violence and aggression, to make it easier for staff to raise issues.
As part of this work a Violence Prevention Charter has been introduced which sets out the organisation’s commitment to providing a safe environment for all including the rights and responsibilities of staff, patients and visitors.