The Care Quality Commission commissioned a rapid evidence review to assess vision-based monitoring systems (VBMS) in inpatient mental health settings. The study examined 68 documents and conducted 11 interviews to understand how VBMS are used and their impact on safety and care.
Key insights include:
- VBMS can track location, activity, vital signs, and support informed interventions, helping reduce sleep disturbances, self-harm incidents, restraint use, and operational costs.
- Some evidence shows reductions such as a 44% drop in bedroom self-harm incidents and a 26% fall in restraint use, though findings are limited and mixed.
- Significant concerns around consent, privacy infringement, diminished patient dignity, and risk of re-traumatisation were raised.
- The report highlights gaps in regulation, policy guidance, and evidence quality—calling for clearer oversight, ethical safeguards, and further independent research to inform CQC’s stance.
Read the full report here: Exploring evidence regarding vision-based monitoring in inpatient mental health units – Care Quality Commission
