Northern Beaches Hospital in Frenchs Forest is installing over-the-bed cameras to connect staff with specialists during paediatric and neonatal emergencies, aiming to strengthen patient safety and clinical decision-making.
Cameras for Emergency Care
Northern Beaches Hospital in Frenchs Forest is fitting over-the-bed cameras in its emergency department, paediatric ward and special care nursery. The units are intended to give staff real-time access to specialist guidance when treating critically ill babies and children.
The cameras are undergoing testing and are expected to be in operation within weeks. Once in use, staff will be able to connect through the Newborn and Paediatric Emergency Transport Service, linking directly with the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network for immediate advice.
Findings From Inquiry
The installations follow an independent inquiry into the hospital’s emergency department, which identified the absence of video technology as a serious concern. The Clinical Excellence Commission was responsible for the review, released in August 2025.
Previously, clinicians relied on phone calls for advice in emergencies, meaning external specialists could not directly observe patients or monitor equipment in real time, limiting their ability to guide on-the-ground staff effectively.
Tragic Cases Raised Concerns
Concerns about paediatric emergency care at the hospital intensified after the death of two-year-old Joe Massa in September 2024, followed by the death of a newborn in February 2025. These cases prompted increased scrutiny of how critical incidents were managed.
How the System Will Operate
The new cameras are controlled by NETS specialists, who can zoom in on patients or check monitoring equipment during emergencies. This allows external clinicians to track a child’s condition as it changes and provide additional oversight and advice to staff on site.
Next Steps
Testing is continuing, with the cameras due to be switched on within weeks. Discussions involving Healthscope, the hospital operator, and its receivers are ongoing about the facility’s long-term management, with outcomes yet to be finalised.
Published 29-Aug-2025
