Let’s talk about restraint: rights, risks and responsibility
The use of restraint in clinical practice is still a taboo and often considered an unpalatable point of contention. At this event, speakers from the RCN’s Older People’s Forum set out to unravel the taboo and show that all nursing staff treating vulnerable adults require training, not just those in mental health or learning disability settings.
Consultant Nurse Jane Buswell and Learning Disability Nurse Chris Stirling outlined UK legislation, as well as some of the legal and professional issues impacting on this debate.
Chris was clear that restraint in clinical practice should be determined by the patients’ needs and only used following discussion and reflection with colleagues, patients and relatives. He encouraged delegates to keep the Mental Capacity Act 2005 in mind. It says that restraint may be justified when a person lacks capacity, when it is in their best interest, and protects them from harm. It also says that restraint should be reasonable and proportionate and that the least restrictive response should be used.
Council Member Hamish Kemp said: “We must ensure that all nursing staff understand the Mental Capacity Act as the starting point”.
In conclusion, Jane recognised the issue as complex, but said: “We must remove this taboo. We need to talk about restraint in terms of duty of care and ensure that training programmes are established to meet the needs of staff in all settings”.
