An inquiry examining patient deaths has heard that there is "strong independent evidence" lacking to support claims that a widely used monitoring system in mental health wards has improved patient safety. The Lampard Inquiry is investigating the deaths of over 2,000 mental health patients in Essex over a 24-year period and has previously heard "grave concerns" regarding the extensive use of Oxevision technology. This system employs infrared sensors and cameras to monitor patients within their rooms.
LIO Health, the company behind Oxevision, maintains that technology plays a crucial role in enhancing the safety of inpatient mental health care, stating that it was the first medical device technology in this field and has had a "significant" impact. The company cited an example where the technology reportedly assisted staff in responding to 1,453 safety incidents within a single trust over four years.
However, two experts from the University of Oxford presented their findings to the inquiry, based on a review of 45 studies that were used to justify the introduction of Oxevision across the National Health Service (NHS). The academics noted that some of these studies were conducted by Oxevision employees or were not sufficiently comprehensive. Their conclusion was that the reviewed studies "did not provide strong independent evidence of improved patient safety, acceptability or cost effectiveness."