Southend Hospital introduces body cameras in A&E to protect staff from abuse

Staff in Southend Hospital’s Emergency Department are now wearing body-worn cameras to help protect themselves from abuse, following a rise in violence and aggression against NHS workers.

The new cameras will not be recording constantly. They will only be switched on if a patient or visitor becomes aggressive or violent – and only after that person has been told they are being filmed. Staff are not required to wear them at all times.

The move is part of wider action across the NHS to deter abusive behaviour and improve safety for frontline staff.

Marnie Haney, Associate Director of Nursing for Emergency Department and Acute, who has worked in both Southend and Basildon A&Es, explained:
“I’ve seen people being called names, spat at and kicked. Although we understand that due to certain conditions some patients can be more challenging, this does not take away from the daily threat of abuse in the department. In many cases aggression and violence cannot be excused so these cameras will help give that extra support when we need them and will hopefully be a deterrent to patients and relatives from being verbally, racially or physically abusive.”

Southend Hospital already has more than 200 CCTV cameras, a dedicated security team and panic buttons in some areas to support staff. However, figures from the 2024 NHS Staff Survey show abuse remains widespread across the Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, which includes Southend, Basildon and Broomfield hospitals:

• 28% of staff reported harassment, bullying or abuse from patients, relatives or the public.
• 1 in 7 NHS workers (14.38%) nationally said they had been physically attacked in the past year, up from 13.88% in 2023.
• Discrimination against staff has risen to its highest level in five years (9.25%), with more than half of those incidents linked to ethnic background.
• 1 in 12 NHS staff (8.82%) reported unwanted sexual behaviour at work, such as offensive remarks, touching or assault.

Christine Blanshard, Chief Medical Officer at the Trust, said:
“We have a duty of care to our staff and must protect them from harm, people shouldn’t be abused at work. You don’t come to work to be hit or shouted at. This is not a decision we take lightly, but staff have told us it’s the right step. It’s a proportionate response to real risk and is about improving safety, not increasing surveillance.”

The cameras were introduced in Southend Hospital’s Emergency Department from Monday 4 August. They are already in place at Basildon Hospital and will soon be rolled out at Broomfield.

Footage recorded cannot be viewed by the staff wearing the cameras. Instead, it is securely uploaded and can only be accessed by the hospital’s security leads. If required, it can also be shared with Essex Police or HR teams during an investigation.

The use of body-worn cameras is not new in hospitals – security staff at Southend already use them – but their expansion into frontline A&E work reflects growing concern over the abuse NHS workers face daily.