The body-worn cameras will be worn at the emergency departments at the Royal Free Hospital and Barnet Hospital, and the Mary Rankin unit at St Pancras Hospital.

The cameras will be worn attached to the front pocket of senior nurses and can be activated with one touch when necessary to record video and audio.

There were a total of 2,834 security incidents across the trust in 2024, with approximately 91% of them falling under a violence and aggression category.

Paul Phillips, head of security at the RFL, said: ‘Increases in violence and aggression related incidents can be due to many factors, some of which we have influence over. We are trying as much as we can to reduce and prevent violence and aggression through policies and guidelines to ensure safer working environments.

‘Body worn cameras are another step forward in the support of our staff as studies have shown their effectiveness specifically in the reduction of violent and aggressive behaviour.'

Bev Thomas, director of nursing at Barnet Hospital and chair of the violence prevention and reduction committee, added: "In the 2023 NHS staff survey, 31% of RFL colleagues said they experienced bullying, harassment and abuse from patients, service users and members of the public in the previous twelve months.

‘Nobody should have to face violence and aggression as part of their job, and we hope that these cameras will have the desired effect of de-escalating situations, reducing disruption and recording an independent account of what happened.'

Healthcare Management recently looked at how trusts and other associated organisations have been working to tackle the problem of increasing violence against staff. You can read the article here.