Body-worn camera trial as hospital staff spat at and burnt with cigarettes

The trust's use of cameras will be reviewed after the three month trial

Body-worn cameras are being trialled at two Londonderry hospitals following an increase in assaults on staff.

The Western Health and Social Care Trust said the three-month trial at Altnagelvin Hospital's emergency department and Grangewood's mental health unit would increase staff, patient and public safety.

The cameras, which nursing, medical and clerical staff began wearing at the start of November, are only activated during incidents of abuse, violence, aggression or when there is a security risk, the trust said.

Incidents of staff being physically or verbally abused, the trust added, has increased by 27% over the last two years.

They include staff being punched, kicked, nipped, spat on and burned with cigarettes, the trust's director of nursing, midwifery and allied health professionals said.

'Really unacceptable'

Speaking to BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme, Donna Keenan said violence towards staff should not be tolerated.

"We do not feel that it is right that they are either physically, verbally, sexually or racially abused or assaulted while they're doing their job and I think the level that it has got to is really unacceptable," she said.

A total of 4,627 instances of physical and verbal abuse towards staff between September 2024 and September 2025, the trust said.

That is an increase of 16% on the previous 12 months and a 27% increase on the number recorded between 2022 and 2023.

Nursing, medical and clerical staff began wearing the cameras at the start of November

Mrs Keenan said the use of cameras complements how staff work to de-escalate incidents.

"We're hopeful that this is more of a deterrent," she said.

"We try to use our skills as well as using the camera to de-escalate the situation.

"So we're hoping by having the camera there as well that we try to reason with the person and try to de-escalate it using our safety intervention skills that our staff have been trained in," she said.

Individuals would be informed when the cameras were being activated, the trust said, and notices placed within the areas where they may be used to make people aware they may be activated.

The use of the cameras will be reviewed at the end of the trial period.

A number of other trusts have previously trialled the use of body-worn cameras

A number of other health trusts in Northern Ireland have previously trialled the use of body worn cameras, including the Northern Trust where healthcare staff were the first to wear them.

Some emergency healthcare workers, such as paramedics, already have access to body-worn cameras when attending calls.

In 2022 the Southern Trust trialled body-worn cameras at Craigavon Area and Daisy Hill hospitals for its security team.

Police officers also use similar devices, both for transparency and as an evidence gathering tool.