There were over 1,170 instances where restrictive practices were used on patients in mental health inpatient units that service the Shannonside Northern Sound region in 2019.
The Mental Health Commission has launched a wide-ranging review of the rules and code of practice governing the use of restrictive practices in Ireland''s in-patient mental health centres.
A report from the Mental Health Commission has detailed the number of episodes in which restrictive practices have been used in services nationwide in 2019.
There were 805 episodes of seclusion and restraint in the Sligo Leitrim mental health inpatient unit 773 instances of physical restraint and 32 instances of seclusion.
The research shows that there were 149 instances at the Department of Psychiatry in Roscommon University hospital between 119 episodes of seclusion, and 30 of physical restraint.
In St Loman's Mullingar, 78 overall episodes of restrictive practises were recorded in 2019, 39 each of seclusion and physical restraint.
There were no instances of seclusion at the acute unit at Cavan General hospital but 139 episodes of physical restraint and less than 5 instances of physical restraint in St Davnet's in Monaghan and no instances of seclusion.
The Mental Health Commission says that it intends to consult with service users, families,
service providers, mental health staff, advocacy groups and the general public
as part of a wide-ranging review of the rules and code of practice governing the use of restrictive practices in Ireland’s in-patient mental health centres
in 2021.
Chief Executive John Farrelly says that given that there is no evidence of a therapeutic benefit associated with the use of restrictive practices, that ultimately, a position would be reached where these practices applied in very limited and exceptional circumstances.]
