NSUN has joined a coalition of local and national campaigners calling Tees, Esk, and Wear Valleys (TEWV) NHS Foundation Trust to immediately cease their use of Oxevision across all bedrooms, seclusion rooms and 136 suites operated by the Trust.
We have done so by co-signing a letter prepared by Stop Oxevision and sent to those in senior roles at TEWV.
Cosignatories include: ReCoCo Newcastle, North East Together, Recovery in the Bin, Mad Youth Organise, and MedAct.
What is Oxevision and what is wrong with it?
Oxevision (recently rebranded as LIO) is a for-profit surveillance technology being used across various supposedly “secure” settings in the UK, including in NHS mental health trusts. The technology involves a camera-based unit being installed in inpatient bedrooms, giving staff the ability to view patients through the camera for the purpose of remote physical health monitoring.
Patients and staff have long been raising concerns about the technology, creating fear and hostility on wards, and reducing 1:1 time between staff and patients. Thanks to tireless campaigning by groups such as Stop Oxevision, (mis)use of the technology is finally becoming subject to increased legal scrutiny e.g. through the Lampard Inquiry, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, and the Information Commissioner’s Office. Taken together, these investigations reveal the serious risk the technology poses to the safety of patients and the ability of trusts to provide legal, safe, and therapeutic care.
Why TEWV?
TEWV is not the only NHS trust using Oxevision, but it does have a particularly poor track record when it comes to the technology – this includes involvement in research which later had its ethical approval redacted, and having weak consent policies.
Despite growing national concern and many NHS Trusts stopping their use of Oxevision, TEWV has decided to expand their use of the technology. We believe TEWV has a responsibility to stop using the technology to protect patients, staff, and itself.
Stopping use of Oxevision/LIO will not heal the harm already caused to patients under the care of TEWV, but it would at the very least serve as recognition of the pain they have faced and an acknowledgement from the trust that what it has done is wrong.
We are proud to be part of this coalition, and will continue to fight for safe, legal, and rights-based mental health care for everyone.