The Northern Care Alliance (NCA), which operates hospitals in Salford, Bury, Oldham and Rochdale, announced the measure was taken to keep frontline healthcare colleagues safe and reduce violent incidents. The move to introduce cameras was made after a nurse was stabbed at Oldham Hospital in a frenzied attack last January. The NCA is deploying 42 digital cameras across its sites in emergency departments and urgent treatment centers.
The cameras can be worn by any staff member who completes training to operate them. They are only activated when a worker feels threatened, and the staff member must inform the individual involved. The cameras record both video and audio when activated, and footage can be used as evidence in criminal or civil court actions and to support investigations.
These small cameras will help create a safer environment for our staff and visitors and allow us to use footage as evidence in any criminal or civil court action.
A staff member employed by the NCA detailed facing sexual, verbal and physical abuse on a daily basis. Abuse and violence has become just part of the job for frontline workers in Greater Manchester's hospitals, with recent incidents including attacks at Stepping Hill Hospital, Royal Bolton Hospital, and Royal Albert Edward Infirmary. However, it is unknown how many incidents of abuse have been recorded since the cameras were introduced or what legal actions have been taken based on the footage.
I’ve received physical violence and have often been on shift with colleagues who have been physically abused by patients. The verbal abuse is day in, day out. I’ve been told ‘I’ll follow you to the car park’ and ‘I’ll follow you home’. I’ve seen staff kicked and punched, hair being pulled is a common thing, headbutting. It’s really any kind of violence. Spitting is regular.