Call for Oxevision cameras to be banned in mental health patients’ bedrooms
CCTV and cameras are not uncommon on mental health wards, used with the intention of keeping patients safe. But some say that new technology, where cameras also monitor their pulse and breathing in their bedrooms, is adding to their sense of paranoia and in some cases making them more unwell.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists and the mental health charity Rethink have now said they want to see the rollout of video surveillance paused.
“It’s the sense big brother is always watching you – that’s really, really scary as a mental health patient, especially if you are experiencing paranoia,” Hat, 27, said.
“It also takes away your privacy and dignity which has already been reduced.”
Sophina, Nell and Hat have all spent time on mental health wards.
Now they are raising concerns about the use of camera surveillance placed in their bedrooms without explicit consent and want to see the use of it stopped.
“It felt like this invisible person was following me. It became really frightening and I got really unwell. I didn’t feel safe sleeping in bed with a camera… not knowing who was watching me or when,” Sophina said.
The technology – called Oxevision – can also monitor a patient’s pulse and breathing, and its makers said it has “been proven” to help keep them safe, but some have told BBC West Investigations they felt so frightened they slept in corridors, bathrooms and even outside.
