Home / Health / Inquiry Questions Safety Claims of Mental Health Monitoring
Inquiry Questions Safety Claims of Mental Health Monitoring
24 Jul
Summary
- Monitoring system widely used in mental health wards lacks evidence of improved safety.
- An inquiry is examining over 2,000 mental health patient deaths over 24 years.
- University academics found studies justifying the tech were not extensive or independent.
An inquiry examining the deaths of over 2,000 mental health patients in Essex has heard serious doubts raised about the effectiveness of widely used monitoring technology. The Lampard Inquiry is investigating patient deaths that occurred over a 24-year period.
Concerns have been expressed regarding Oxevision, a system employing infrared sensors and cameras to monitor patients in their rooms. LIO Health, the company behind Oxevision, asserts that its technology is vital for safer mental healthcare and has been instrumental in responding to numerous safety incidents.
However, two experts from the University of Oxford presented findings from their review of 45 studies supporting Oxevision's implementation. They concluded that these studies did not offer strong independent evidence of improved patient safety, acceptability, or cost-effectiveness, with some involving company employees or lacking sufficient scope.
