On 14 May 2025, the Lampard Inquiry will hear witness evidence from a member of campaign group, Stop Oxevision, regarding the use of the controversial video monitoring system on mental health wards.

Stop Oxevision is a national campaign and network of former and current NHS in-patients.

The Lampard Inquiry, which is investigating mental health inpatient deaths in Essex, includes within its List of Issues, consideration of the use of technology on wards, including Oxevision.

Oxevision, manufactured by Oxehealth, is a video monitoring system located in patients’ bedrooms. It uses an infrared sensitive camera to enable staff to remotely monitor patients by accessing live video feeds of their bedrooms, and, in some circumstances, taking measurements of pulse and breathing rate. It can be customised by providers to issue alerts to staff in various circumstances, such as when a patient is in the camera’s blind spot, or when they enter a bathroom. According to Oxehealth’s website, the system is now used by 50% of NHS mental health trusts in England, and has been involved in 70 million hours of patient treatment.

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust was an early adopter of the system, introducing it in 2020 in response to safety concerns raised by patients, families, and the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Oxehealth claims that Oxevision improves patient safety, and “shouldn’t replace staff”[1]. The system has proved controversial, however, with groups such as Stop Oxevision raising concerns about the impact of its use on patient privacy, mental health, and safety. Stop Oxevision’s campaign work has included collaborating with the National Survivor User’s Network on an open letter to NHS England regarding the use of the system, and speaking publicly to the BBC regarding their concerns [2]. Concerns have also been raised in recent inquest proceedings regarding the use of Oxevision.

As part of its ongoing hearings, which are focused on contextual evidence regarding the provision of mental health care in Essex including ward environment and safety, the Inquiry intends to hear evidence next week from Stop Oxevision on the morning of Wednesday 14 May 2025. This will be followed by Laura Cozens’ oral evidence on behalf of Oxehealth. Zephan Trent will provide evidence in the afternoon on behalf of EPUT in relation to the Trust’s use of Oxevision.

The Inquiry will also be hearing evidence next week from Deborah Coles, Executive Director of charity INQUEST, which has extensive experience supporting families who have experienced the loss of loved ones under the care of Essex mental health services, and Paul Scott, CEO of Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust.

Notes to Editors

Stop Oxevision is represented in their capacity as witnesses to the Inquiry by Rachel Harger, Khariya Ali and Alfie Meadows of Bindmans and by Brenda Campbell KC of Lincoln House Chambers, and Tom Stoate of Doughty Street Chambers.

On 9 September 2024, a statutory public inquiry opened into the deaths of mental health inpatients in Essex. The Inquiry has resumed hearings between Monday 28 April and 15 May 2025. The hearing timetable is available here.

It is possible to stream the hearings online with a 10-minute delay. Other means of attending or following proceedings, including registration to attend in person, can be found here.

Find out more about the Lampard Inquiry here.

The full Terms of Reference for the inquiry can be found here.

[1] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckg54yzek47o

[2] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq8kqzgel2no