Camera system promises cuts in NHS litigation costs
A Belfast-based company, Fast Active Systems, has launched a clever
recording system intended to help the NHS cut the costs of litigation.
According to the Department of Health, in 2003 five per cent of the
general population reported suffering some injury or adverse effects from
medical care. In 2004/5, the NHS Litigation Authority spent £530m on
settled cases and has made a further provision of £7.6bn for as yet
unsettled claims. Additionally, in the majority of claims under £45,000,
the associated legal and administrative costs actually exceed the damages
awarded.
In a bid to reduce the amount of time and money being used to deal with
litigation, Fast Active has introduced a monitoring system specifically
for use in medical environments such as hospitals, GP surgeries, dentists’
offices and private practices.
The system makes use of digital cameras for the monitoring of medical
procedures and, because it holds a Kalagate Certificate, recorded material
can be used as evidence in EEC courts.
Michael Steele, who founded Fast Active along with Kevin Cowdrey, says:
"The system uses a minimum of three cameras and a maximum of eight;
usually four would be the optimum number. These four might include an
overhead camera that can be set to focus on different parts of the
patient, a wide-angle camera to cover the theatre, and perhaps two small
wireless cameras for each surgeon."
These latter are sufficiently small and light-weight to be mounted on
the surgeons’ heads or protective glasses.
Steele adds: "The images from all the cameras are recorded and archived
by the system to be recalled and viewed if required. They can be viewed
individually or time synchronised on to a split screen. All cameras
record real-time, high-quality full-colour images that would be
acceptable for use in a court case."
24 October 2005
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