Aged care: State Government open to CCTV cameras in aged care bedrooms
HEALTH Minister Stephen Wade says he’s open to CCTV cameras being installed in government-run nursing home bedrooms after meeting with a UK security firm on Monday as pressure rises for South Australia to “lead the nation”.
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HEALTH Minister Stephen Wade says he is open to CCTV cameras being installed in Government-run nursing home bedrooms after meeting with a UK security firm on Monday.
Legislation to ensure state-run nursing homes make CCTV an option for all residents is set to be tabled in State Parliament next month by SA Best next month, as Mr Wade gets pressured to “lead the nation” in protecting those in aged care facilities.
Mr Wade said it was important to “take whatever steps necessary” to improve the aged care sector, including security measures and bolstering the accreditation process.
“The Government is exploring what role CCTV can play in residential aged care facilities. CCTV has the potential to provide patients with greater protections and families with greater peace of mind,” he said.
“We are determined to do more to protect our most vulnerable citizens and the voluntary use of CCTV in private rooms is an opportunity that has real potential.
“I will continue to explore the merits of rolling CCTV out more broadly, and specifically a voluntary scheme for installing CCTV devices in private rooms, which takes into account the protection of a resident’s privacy and dignity.”
Mr Wade this week met with Care Protect, who are looking to expand their independent monitoring system into Australia, alongside Stewart Johnston – whose mother was allegedly assaulted at Oakden – and nursing home whistleblower Noleen Hausler.
CCTV cameras operate in common areas of state-run nursing homes like Northgate, but not private areas such as bedrooms. Ms Hausler, who captured her father Clarence being assaulted at the Mitcham Residential Care Facility when she installed a hidden video camera in his bedroom, urged the State Government to allow CCTV cameras in bedrooms of state-run facilities.
“I believe if it was in place at the time I wouldn’t have had to do what I did,” she said.
“It (CCTV) is the only means for accountability and evidence, whether it’s for or against the allegations.”
Mr Johnston said technology like Care Protect’s would have prevented a culture of abuse and neglect forming at the condemned Oakden nursing home. “It would never have occurred if we had this type of technology in place,” he said.
SA Best MP Frank Pangallo will soon introduce a Bill mandating CCTV cameras be an option in private areas of state-run facilities, and in the common areas of all of SA’s privately run nursing homes.
Mr Pangallo said Care Protect’s system was “brilliant” and its biggest advantage was that its footage was independently monitored by its own experts and not able to be accessed by facilities.
Care Protect managing director Philip Scott said there was “nothing firmer” than an interest from the Government about what it did, but the company was happy to explore any opportunity to install its technology in “appropriate environments”.