Safety on acute wards

I’ve rather unwittingly got involved in issues around safety on wards. It’s pretty obvious that when patients have something constructive to do during the day and good relationships with staff and each other, the number of violent incidents is going to be minimised. This is confirmed by research – including the results of a survey of wards participating in Star Wards. 50% reported a reduction of violent incidents as a result of their involvement in the project.

It’s strange, and risky, writing a blog because it feels private but is the opposite. But I’ll stick out my emotional neck (?) and say that I find all this stuff very upsetting. I’m not at all bothered at the prospect of being clobbered by another patient. It’s the staff reaction to violence that freaks me out. In particular, ‘rapid tranquilisation’ – i.e. being forceably injected. But this feels almost mellow compared to practices in continental Europe. It turns out that they use the alarmingly named ‘mechanical restraints’. All sounds very Heath Robinson but is actually very low-tech. And ghastly. Being strapped to the bed, sometimes for hours. Left alone, in some hospitals in rooms whose sole purpose is to have patients strapped to beds. Aaarrgghh!

I went to Italy for a conference and planning gig of a European project. Italy is celebrated for passing a law in 1978 closing all of its psychiatric hospitals. These have been replaced with community services and not very many acute admission wards in general hospitals. I visited one of these and was told that thre are no activities for patients and no nursing plans. Patients are only there a short time (about 7 – 10 days) but it still contrasts strongly with what happens in the UK.

So I’ve returned full of gratitude and relief for the prevailing ethos and practices of our acute wards.