Concord Hospital Employees Involved In Hidden Locker Room Camera Incident ‘Facing Disciplinary Action’

CONCORD, NH — An internal investigation concerning a hidden camera in a women’s locker room at Concord Hospital has led to disciplinary action against employees identified as being involved in the privacy breach, the hospital said Friday.

Concord Hospital Health System, the parent company of the city’s hospital, began its investigation after a hidden camera was discovered in the women’s operating room staff locker room. The review, led by the hospital’s human resources and risk management departments, confirmed the camera was installed on Aug. 9 as part of a theft investigation. The camera was removed Aug. 20. The camera was directed at an individual locker, but did not capture audio. Access to the recording was also limited, Veronica Rosa, the chief advancement officer for the company, said.

“The individuals responsible have been identified and are facing appropriate and swift disciplinary action, up to and including termination,” she said. “CHHS does not condone the use of cameras in private spaces such as this. Security cameras are used in public areas and in certain specialized care or medical settings to ensure the safety and security of patients, visitors, staff, and property.”

Rosa said more than a dozen staff interviews were conducted during the investigation.

The Concord Police Department has the camera and digital file and is continuing to investigate the incident, she said.

WMUR-TV broke the story about the breach.

Rosa said the hospital is reviewing its policies and procedures, auditing all surveillance equipment, and providing mandatory training to ensure an incident like this does not happen again.

In previous statements, Rosa said the hospital would pursue any violations of city, state, or federal laws as part of the investigation and was fully cooperating with the police. She said senior leadership was not consulted about the camera and did not authorize its installation.

“We deeply regret any distress this incident caused and remain committed to protecting the privacy, safety, and trust of our staff, patients, and community,” Rosa said.

It is unknown whether former Concord Police Chief John Duval, who has headed security at the hospital for nearly a dozen years, or any other former department employee was involved in the investigation. When asked about his employment, the hospital offered no comment due to the open investigation. Duval also did not return email or phone calls for comment. Before working security, Duval spent more than a quarter of a century performing police work.

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