Nurse says body cameras make work safer as Northern Ireland hospital pilot launches

A 12-week pilot of body-worn cameras for healthcare staff began at Antrim Area Hospital in Northern Ireland, part of a regional effort to curb a surge in violence and aggression toward clinicians. Emeria Doherty, a nurse with 25 years in the Emergency Department, said wearing a body camera has made her feel safer because of a "massive increase in violence and aggression" toward healthcare workers. The pilot, conducted by the Northern Trust, will test whether the cameras can deter assaults and support staff during difficult encounters without becoming a constant surveillance presence.

Across Northern Ireland's six health trusts, the period from 2019/20 to 2023/24 yielded almost 56,000 recorded instances of physical abuse toward staff and nearly 13,000 cases of verbal abuse. The Northern Trust, which runs Antrim Area Hospital, accounted for most of the reported verbal or physical abuse in that span, with almost 10,000 incidents. The Antrim Area trial started on 1 September and will run for 12 weeks. The cameras will not operate continuously; they will be switched on during an incident with a warning issued to patients beforehand, to balance safety with patient privacy during de-escalation efforts.

Staff say the devices help de-escalate tense situations and provide an accountability backdrop for both patients and caregivers. Doherty said, "Our job is to de-escalate a situation. If we can't de-escalate that situation, then we let people know that we are switching the camera on." She also noted that she has seen situations where violence included objects being thrown toward nurses, underscoring the risks faced in emergency care settings. The team is hopeful the cameras will become a norm if the trial demonstrates clear safety benefits without compromising care.

Suzanne Pullins, executive director of nursing for the Northern Trust, acknowledged that attacks do not happen every day, but when they do, they are emotionally disturbing for staff. "People who come to use our services are vulnerable. They're not well. They don't wish to be exposed to violence and aggression whilst they wait for their treatment or assessment. That's really key for us to consider at the end of this pilot and to really work out the strategy for our organisation," she said. The pilot also is framed as a test of how best to deploy such devices across the region, with staff safety, patient care, and privacy considerations weighing in the evaluation.

The Northern Trust is the first regional health authority in Northern Ireland to pilot body-worn cameras for clinical teams. Some emergency workers, such as paramedics, already have access to body-worn cameras in certain settings. In 2022, the Southern Trust trialled body-worn cameras with its security team at Craigavon Area Hospital and Daisy Hill Hospital. Police officers have long used similar devices for transparency and evidence collection. The Belfast Trust, which runs two major city hospitals, recorded more than 22,000 instances of physical abuse toward staff between 2019/20 and 2023/24, far higher than other trusts; its leadership said it was weighing whether to launch a similar pilot, while the South Eastern Trust said it currently has no plans to implement body-worn cameras in the Emergency Department and would continue to monitor progress region-wide.

The pilot’s findings are expected to shape how the region approaches staff safety going forward. Officials say the trial will measure incidents of violence, de-escalation outcomes, staff well-being, and any implications for patient privacy and care delivery. If positive, the approach could inform broader use of body-worn cameras across NI health facilities, with careful attention to safeguarding, data handling, and staff training. The decision to expand would hinge on whether cameras demonstrably reduce violence without creating adverse effects on patient experience or trust in the health system.

Officials emphasized that the Antrim Area Hospital pilot is a cautious, time-bound step that will feed into a regional strategy. The project is being closely watched by other trusts, which may tailor or adopt similar measures depending on outcomes. The Department of Health has underscored safety as a priority for frontline workers, with violence toward staff cited as a persistent challenge across the health service. As the 12-week period unfolds, hospital leadership and staff will assess whether body-worn cameras provide a meaningful, practical layer of protection that supports both caregivers and patients during challenging episodes, while ensuring that interactions remain patient-centered and respectful.

In the meantime, health officials stress the importance of de-escalation skills, proper use of the devices, and clear protocols for when and how cameras should be activated. The ultimate aim is to ensure safer workplaces for healthcare teams while maintaining high standards of patient care and dignity, a balance that is central to the region’s health strategy as it navigates a sustained period of pressures on frontline services.