'Evidence lacking' for mental health monitoring tech

'Evidence lacking' for mental health monitoring techImage source, Richard Daniel/BBCImage caption, An inquiry into the deaths of 2,000 people in Essex is expected to continue into 2027ByNikki Fox, East of England health correspondent and Louise ParryPublishedJust nowThere is no "strong independent evidence" that a monitoring system used widely in mental health wards has improved patient safety, an inquiry has heard.The Lampard Inquiry is examining the deaths of more than 2,000 mental health patients in Essex over a 24-year period.The inquiry had previously heard "grave concerns" expressed about the widespread use of Oxevision technology, which monitors patients in their rooms using infrared sensors and cameras.LIO Health, which runs Oxevision, recently said: "Technology has a vital role to play in supporting safer inpatient mental health care, an area without any medical device technology until Oxevision."It added its impact had been "significant"."In one trust alone, the technology has helped staff in responding to 1,453 safety incidents over a four-year period," LIO Health said.On Thursday, the inquiry heard from two experts from the University of Oxford.They had reviewed 45 studies that were used to justify introducing Oxevision across the NHS.The academics found some of the studies involved employees of Oxevision or were not extensive enough.They concluded the studies did "not provide strong independent evidence of improved patient safety, acceptability or cost effectiveness".Image caption, Oxevision tracks patients' pulse and breathing rates, and is used by 40% of NHS mental health trustsHowever, one of the experts acknowledged that conducting the ideal study in a mental health ward setting would be challenging.Fiona Scolding KC, speaking on behalf of Oxevision, questioned whether it was more difficult to introduce randomised controlled trials in mental health units.Law firm Hodge Jones...