THE NSW Mental Health Minister is being called on to respond to the ending of security camera monitoring of patients in Albury hospital's mental health unit.
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The move has upset the NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association which fears the lack of live feed camera coverage heightens safety risks to staff and patients.
Union organiser Matthew Doherty accused Albury Wodonga Health, which administers Nolan House, of being hypocritical.
"The nurses have told me that about three months ago that recording CCTV monitors have turned up inside the nurses' station," he said.
"The same management is recording the nurses going about their jobs in their workplace.
"The nurses asked why it occurred and they said 'it was because it was suspected someone was stealing things'."
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The Border Mail asked Albury Wodonga Health about this and it did not respond to that aspect as well as other specific questions about the CCTV withdrawal.
Instead it issued a three-paragraph attributable statement which did not refer to the chief psychiatrist.
"The practice of monitoring people via CCTV poses an unacceptable risk to safety and is not considered an acceptable substitute for face to face interactions between patients and staff," a spokeswoman said.
"The decision to remove the CCTV monitors follows two years of discussions with the health service.
"Albury Wodonga Health is committed to the ongoing safety of staff, patients and visitors."
Albury MP Justin Clancy expressed concern at the move and has raised it with the Mental Health Minister.
"We're hoping that NSW Health may be able to engage with the Victorian Chief Psychiatrist about the decision he has made," Mr Clancy said.
"We need to have a safe working environment for staff and patients."
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Mr Clancy said he would meet the minister Bronwyn Taylor the week after next to discuss concerns raised with him by the union.
He said the order from Dr Coventry was clearcut.
"I've read the directive and it was quite frank and explicit," Mr Clancy said.
"Albury Wodonga Health are in a position where they're obliged to comply with that."
Nolan House is under Victorian administration which allows Dr Coventry's edict to outweigh NSW coronial findings.
"The cameras were implemented under the recommendation of two separate coroners' cases," Mr Doherty said.
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