Charity calls for ban of 'face-down restraint'

The use of physical restraint in psychiatric hospitals has been widely reported after the publication of a report by the mental health charity MIND on the use of the practice in England. The report said that last year almost 40,000 incidents of physical restraint were recorded, with almost 1,000 cases of physical injury after a patient had been physically restrained. MIND is particularly concerned about the use of "face-down restraint", which it says can be life-threatening and was used more than 3,000 times last year. The government is said to be considering a ban on the practice and has reportedly ordered an investigation into its use in two English trusts. The charity's report says that from the figures it has compiled, it is clear there is "huge variation" in the use of physical restraint across England. It is calling for the government to establish national standards for the use of physical restraint and accredited training in its use for healthcare staff.   What is physical restraint in mental healthcare? MIND quotes one definition of physical restraint from the Care Quality Commission, which says it is "the physical restraint of a patient by one or more members of staff in response to aggressive behaviour or resistance to treatment". MIND defines "face-down restraint" as when someone is pinned face down (prone) on the floor and is physically prevented from moving out of this position. The charity says this is dangerous and c...
Source: NHS News Feed - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Mental health Medical practice Source Type: news