Nearly three-quarters of Care Show visitors back covert surveillance in care homes

Almost three-quarters of visitors to this year's Care Show agree that covert surveillance should be introduced in care homes.

The poll carried out at the Care Show in Bournemouth found 73 per cent back the idea of having covert cameras in care homes.

The survey comes just weeks after the Care Quality Commission (CQC) published information for friends and families of care home residents, who are thinking about using hidden cameras – or any type of recording equipment – to monitor someone's care.

Gemma Keogh, director of Arc Seven Communications, a PR agency specialising in health and social care, said: “There has been a sense that care providers are reluctant to go down the camera route but this survey suggests that simply isn’t the case.

“Many of the people we surveyed would welcome the introduction of cameras in their care home because they believe ‘good care workers have nothing to hide’.

“Interestingly some individuals felt the cameras would actually offer protection to care givers themselves, who may fall victim to false accusations of mistreatment.

“It’s fair to say that there was a broad acceptance that it is just a question of time until there is the widespread use of cameras in care home bed rooms.”

There are currently estimated to be up to 5.9m CCTV cameras in Britain, including 750,000 in sensitive locations such as schools, hospitals and care homes.

The whole issue of covert and overt surveillance in care homes has long been a topic for debate with some families of abuse victims calling for widespread use, claiming it is the only way to catch abuse or neglect.

However a barrister specialising in human rights and criminal law, recently warned that putting covert surveillance in care homes, would be a “legal minefield” for both care home providers and for individuals wanting to monitor their friend or relative’s care.

For more on this go to www.carehome.co.uk/news/article.cfm/id/1566929/putting-hidden-cameras-care-homes-legal-minefield-barrister