The South Eastern Trust plans to introduce body-worn cameras for staff in the Emergency Department at Ulster Hospital starting the week of 23 March 2026. The devices aim to boost staff safety after 1911 reported incidents of violence and aggression against workers between April and December last year.

Staff who choose to use the cameras will attach them to uniforms and activate them when feeling unsafe or when situations escalate. The cameras record video and audio. Users inform patients when recording begins and ends.

The Trust maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward abuse, aggression or violence against its workforce. Clinical Manager for Emergency Medicine Maggie Magowan stated that staff arrive daily to care for people in pain or distress, and that rising violence against them causes deep concern. No worker should fear while performing their duties, she added.

Director of Unscheduled Care, Medicine and Cancer Services Marc Neil described the cameras as a measure to protect staff. They activate only in unsafe situations, with the aim to de-escalate and deter aggression. The Trust prioritizes staff wellbeing and a safe work environment, Neil said.