Healthcare worker safety and how body worn cameras can help

A disturbing and sustained increase in the amount of verbal abuse and physical violence affecting healthcare workers has led to sensational news headlines, and a growing level of concern for healthcare worker safety among decision makers. 

For the average worker, the right to be protected against verbal or physical violence at work is a basic expectation. For nurses, doctors, and even receptionists working in healthcare, however, facing abuse and danger at work is increasingly the rule rather than the exception. 

Back in 2021, the British Medical Journal reported that more than half of healthcare workers have witnessed violence being perpetrated against staff members. A chilling 67 percent said that the situation was worsening, and in 2024, there’s evidence that they were correct in saying so. The BCC recently reported that between 2018 and 2022, attacks on medical staff had risen by 47 percent. 

The conclusion that healthcare staff have become increasingly unsafe in the workplace is an unavoidable one, and many healthcare providers, both in the UK and around the world, are hoping that body worn cameras can help. 

Healthcare worker risks

Apart from the risk of being forced to deal with physical or verbal abuse, healthcare workers are subject to other risks too. For example, patients may make unfounded abuse, negligence or malpractice accusations against healthcare workers. 

Compounding the risks that healthcare workers face, there are not always witnesses when incidents occur. For example, a healthcare worker undertaking home visits as a lone worker is unlikely to be able to call on witnesses if an incident occurs in a patient’s home. Lone worker alarms can send out a call for help, but providing proof of an incident can be very difficult indeed. 

Safety provisions for healthcare workers are becoming more demanding

Providing for the safety of healthcare workers has always been a complex area. They may be exposed to harmful pathogens, hazardous drugs, burnout-inducing shifts, and highly stressful situations.  

While workplace violence and abuse were a consideration in the past, there’s a pressing need for greater diligence in safeguarding healthcare workers from public aggression. With healthcare organisations having the same level of responsibility for protecting workers under law as any other employer, body worn cameras are increasingly becoming part of the healthcare workplace. 

Security benefits of body worn cameras in healthcare

Reduction in the number and severity of attacks

After examining studies conducted by several healthcare organisations, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) concludes that the presence of body-worn cameras moderates public behaviour, at least to some degree. It cites a study showing a reduced need for restrictive interventions in mental health settings as an example of this. 

The study, published in the British Medical Journal, found that in three of the five psychiatric wards studied, the number of attacks was also reduced. Staff working in mental health settings are seven times more likely to be subject to attacks since mental health patients have a reduced capacity to control their actions. 

The RCN observes that published evidence to support the use of body worn cameras is currently limited. However, it seems to be reasonable to assume that members of the public who are not subject to mental health disturbances, there is even greater potential for a significant reduction in attacks on staff when body worn cameras are in use. 

Body worn cameras help in de-escalating tense situations

In security settings, body worn cameras have long been credited as helpful in de-escalating potentially violent confrontations. Research has shown that the use of body worn cameras plays a significant role in de-escalating violent encounters with incidents requiring the use of force reducing by up to 60 percent where police are equipped with body worn cameras.

With camera footage being available for analysis following confrontations, it seems logical that members of the public are less prone to violent or abusive behaviour. They are aware that irrefutable video and audio evidence of what is occurring will be available and are therefore less likely to use abusive language or initiate attacks.

Body worn camera footage provides evidence in the event of prosecutions

Even with body worn cameras being deployed, healthcare staff, especially lone workers, may still become the victims of assault. Using the example of sexual assaults in home visit contexts, nurses wearing body cameras would not find themselves embroiled in a “he said, she said” argument they can’t win. Video and audio footage will contribute to the successful prosecution of offenders. 

Healthcare workers and patients feel safer 

The same study found that both healthcare staff and most patients felt safer in the presence of body worn cameras. Staff have the assurance that comes with knowing they aren’t entirely “on their own” and can summon help quickly. They are also protected from false claims a patient may make. At the same time, patients feel more confident that staff behaviour aligns with accepted practice. 

Footage can be used to identify training needs

When incidents occur, footage from body worn cameras can be used to determine whether additional staff training may have prevented the occurrence of an incident. Although the footage itself should only be viewed by authorised persons, studying it may point towards healthcare worker safety tips that may be used in training. 

Body worn cameras can help to keep healthcare workers safe

Naturally, there are challenges involved in using body worn cameras in healthcare. Specifically, patient privacy and data privacy laws must be respected. However, it’s hardly uncharted territory, and the use of body worn cameras in healthcare is on the rise. 

Contact us if you’re interested in finding out more about body worn cameras in healthcare with an eye to equipping your staff with these devices, Radiocoms can help. As a Crown Commercial Service Supplier, our experience working with the NHS, care homes and healthcare workers equips us to provide expert insights into the advantages and challenges of using body worn cameras in healthcare. 

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