Wollongong and Shoalhaven hospitals joined the trial this week, with the aim of improving safety for staff, patients and visitors.
Minister for Health Ryan Park said a total of five hospitals across northern Sydney, south western Sydney and the Illawarra are now participating in the trial, which commenced at Royal North Shore Hospital in December 2024.
The trial will expand to a total of 15 hospitals by March 2025.
Security staff in participating hospitals are equipped with body worn cameras and can activate these cameras in response to incidents involving aggression and violence in the hospital, where there is risk of harm to staff, patients or others.
The trial will determine how effective the presence of the cameras is at deterring and de-escalating violent incidents and will be independently evaluated once completed.
Body worn cameras are one strategy intended to keep everyone safe in NSW public hospitals. NSW Health facilities also have a number of other key strategies in place to ensure the safest possible environment for staff, patients and visitors. These include:
- Ongoing risk assessments to identify and manage emerging security risks.
- Safety huddles to share information on patient related safety risk with incoming workers.
- Patient management plans that set out specific arrangements to keep both the patient and healthcare workers safe when providing care.
- Multi-disciplinary Code Black (duress) response teams. This includes the use of NSW Health security staff/Health and Security Assistants to assist clinical staff with the management of incidents.
- Workplaces designed to enhance line of sight for staff, including dual egress at staff stations and in treatments rooms.
- Lockdown arrangements including secure entry points between public and clinical areas and secure perimeters for facilities, particularly after hours.
- 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.
- Procedures to enhance car park security, including regular security patrols.
This trial is part of the ongoing implementation of recommendations from the Anderson Review of Hospital Security and follows implementation of other recommendations by the NSW Government to improve hospital security.
These include the establishment of the Safety and Security Improvement Unit within the Ministry of Health, the standardising of code black procedures, and enhanced support for patient experience officers.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Ryan Park:
"I'm pleased to announce the body worn camera trial is now operational in Wollongong and Shoalhaven hospitals, providing us with important insights into how we can reduce instances of violence and aggression in our public hospitals.
"The safety of our staff and patients is my number one priority as the Minister for Health and I look forward to the results of this trial."
Quotes attributable to HSU Secretary Gerard Hayes:
"Hospital staff deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, yet all too often are treated like punching bags.
"If body worn cameras prevent even a small portion of this abuse, they are worth considering. That's why we are backing this trial."
Quotes attributable to Member for Wollongong Paul Scully:
"We want to make our hospital safer for staff, patients and their families.
"We are taking this proactive approach to deter violence and keep workers at Wollongong Hospital safe."
Quotes attributable to Member for South Coast Liza Butler:
"Our healthcare workers dedicate themselves to looking after our community, and it is our responsibility to ensure they feel safe while doing their jobs. This trial is an important step towards deterring violence and ensuring a safer environment for staff, patients, and visitors.
"I'm proud to see Shoalhaven hospital included in this trial and I look forward to seeing its impact on improving safety for our hardworking healthcare staff and the broader community."
