A public inquiry into mental health deaths in Essex heard arguments from bereaved families and legal representatives calling for the discontinuation of Oxevision, an infrared camera monitoring system deployed across approximately half of England’s mental health wards.
Lawyers representing more than 70 bereaved families presented evidence that the technology contributed to patient deaths and harms. They cited specific cases, including a 16-year-old who died by suicide in 2021 when staff had muted the system’s alarm, and another patient who believed the cameras would bring staff assistance. Legal representatives argued the cameras created a coercive power imbalance, invaded privacy, and were frequently misused as substitutes for direct patient observation rather than complementary tools. Experts testified the technology could increase paranoia among vulnerable patients. Inquiry chair Kate Lampard is considering issuing interim regulations regarding the system’s use.
The manufacturer Lio defended Oxevision, contesting claims of ineffectiveness and arguing the technology provides valuable safety assistance when properly implemented. A company representative stated that only four of the 2,000 deaths examined by the inquiry occurred while patients were under Oxevision monitoring, and none of the coroner reports attributed deaths to the system itself. The manufacturer characterized implementation failures as distinct from technology failures.
The inquiry, which began in 2024, is examining over 2,000 mental health deaths across a 23-year period in Essex. Separately, the information commissioner launched an investigation into Oxevision regarding data protection concerns earlier this year. The outcome of the Lampard inquiry may influence national policy on camera surveillance in psychiatric facilities.
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