New physical restraint guidance for people with dementia, learning disabilities and mental health problems

The Royal College of Nursing is holding a consultation on behalf of the Department of Health on alternatives to physical restraint in adult social care settings and special schools.

The proposed guidance aims to reduce the need for physical restraint on people with dementia, autism, learning disabilities or mental health problems.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is leading the consortium which has developed the guidance for health professionals.

The guidance aims to provide clarity about the use of physical interventions as a last resort. It will also provide guidance for the use of positive behavioural support, an approach which when used appropriately is designed to minimise the use of restrictive interventions.

Dr Peter Carter, chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing said: “The nursing profession is leading the way in developing ways of managing challenging behaviour and distressed patients. Nobody wants to see the horrific events of Winterbourne View repeated, and members of the RCN have shown their commitment to improve care very clearly.

“Sadly, we know that many well intentioned and compassionate health staff feel unprepared and unsupported when they are faced with challenging and dangerous situations. This guidance has been put together with the support and guidance of other professions, and importantly using the experience of people who have experienced physical interventions themselves.”

He added that “the guidance, once it has been finalised, should help to make those situations more manageable and less distressing for all concerned. It goes to the heart of compassionate care that nurses are able to bring this about. We very much support the Government’s commitment on this issue, and look forward to working with them and others to improve the care of vulnerable people in particular.”

Care and Support Minister Norman Lamb is “urging service users, their families, staff and the wider public to respond to the consultation so that we can use their views to shape our final guidance which will be published in spring 2014”.

He said: “The terrible abuse at Winterbourne View exposed that physical restraint was being used to punish and humiliate people and it was being used far too often. Physical restraint should only ever be used as last resort.

“We want to end dangerous practices which involve restricting the airway, and promote ways to stop situations from escalating. I am particularly concerned about face-down restraint.”

The consultation which choses on 13 February 2014 can be found at www.rcn.org.uk/support/consultations/pages/use_of_restrictive_practices_in_health_and_adult_social_care_and_special_schools

The new consortium was formed following the publication of Transforming Care, the Department of Health’s review into the abuse of vulnerable adults at Winterbourne View.