Understand
Ten NHS trusts referred to regulator over patient monitoring consent issues
Overview
Ten mental health trusts have been reported to the Care Quality Commission by NHS England following issues with patient consent procedures when using camera and infrared monitoring technology, such as Oxevision. The matter emerged during the Lampard Inquiry, which is investigating deaths in Essex mental health units.
Key points
- Ten mental health trusts were referred to the Care Quality Commission over problems with consent procedures for camera monitoring technology.
- The issue came to light during hearings of the Lampard Inquiry, examining deaths in Essex mental health units between 2000 and 2023.
- NHS England stated it became aware of safety, consent, and human rights concerns regarding systems like Oxevision as early as 2021.
- An internal 2022 email revealed awareness that some trusts were not giving patients the choice to refuse being filmed.
- NHS England wrote to the CQC on 2 October after a review found 10 trusts were not operating their consent mechanisms in line with digital principles.