Staff to wear tracking tag at hospital

Thursday 5th May 2011, 9:00PM BST.

Doctors and nurses at a Black Country hospital will be made to wear electronic tags in order to track their movements at work and also check that they are washing their hands, it was revealed today.

Wolverhampton’s New Cross Hospital has been chosen to pilot the electronic tagging system that can track patients, staff and equipment around wards.

The new system, called Safe Hands, uses sensor technology in badges worn by staff as well as being attached to selected bits of equipment.

The tags trigger sensors that show their location.

The hospital is one of eight trusts in the UK chosen by the Department of Health to pilot the scheme.

It will be rolled out over the coming months and has caused controversy among some workers.

One member of staff at the hospital who didn’t wish to be named said: “The hospital says they want to check staff wash their hands but they also want to see what the staff are doing. Is this right?”

View more: New Cross Hospital news, Wolverhampton news.