'Evidence lacking' for mental health monitoring tech

Protesters stand outside Arundel House in Central London. They are holding a big horizontal banner that says "SOS Essex is dying!" Some are also holding posters of their relatives that have died. They are standing outside the front of the mock-Tudor building. There is a row of about 30 people.

Image source, Richard Daniel/BBCImage caption,

An inquiry into the deaths of 2,000 people in Essex is expected to continue into 2027

ByNikki Fox, East of England health correspondent and Louise Parry

Published11 minutes ago

There 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".

A box on a wall with lights on, which is a digital monitoring system.

Image caption,

Oxevision tracks patients' pulse and breathing rates, and is used by 40% of NHS mental health trusts

However, 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 & Allen is representing more than 120 bereaved families at the inquiry.

Partner Nina Ali said: "What we have heard from the experts today shows that there is no clear or meaningful evidence to show that Oxevision improves patient safety or patient care."

A person with short spiky hair looking at the camera. They are wearing a floral shirt and a green lanyard with sunflowers on it. Behind them is a path and greenery.

Image source, Qays Najm/BBCImage caption,

Hat Porter is from Stop Oxevision, which has been campaigning for three years

The campaign group Stop Oxevision has been campaigning to halt its use in the NHS.

Spokesperson Hat Porter said the findings raised concerns "not only regarding this particular technology, but more broadly as well".

They said a "lack of regulation means that a technology without any kind of robust independent evidence base can just be rolled out" widely.

Prof Christl Donnelly and Dr Maria Christodoulou of Oxford University said "further independent, randomised, and adequately controlled research" would need to be undertaken before any stronger conclusions could be drawn about Oxevision.

NHS England has been contacted for comment.

The inquiry will resume in October, when its chair Baroness Lampard will decide whether to make interim recommendations.

Hearings will continue until late 2027, with a final report expected in 2028.

The Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust previously said: "We're really clear that there's more to do to ensure that the care we provide continues to improve, and the recommendations of the Lampard Inquiry will be an important part of this."

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