Dublin mental health centre falls short on physical restraint code

A Dublin mental health centre has failed to comply with the code of practice on physical restraint for four consecutive years, an inspection report has found.

The 39-bed Elm Mount Unit at St Vincent’s University Hospital said the issue was now high risk. 

Two episodes were recorded by the Mental Health Commission (MHC) where the staff member responsible for leading the physical restraint did not monitor the person’s head or airway, and that this went undocumented. In another case, inspectors noted, the physical restraint was not reviewed by members of the multidisciplinary team and recorded correctly.

There was also concern regarding the administration of medicine, specifically deficits in the prescription and administration record “which could potentially lead to medication errors”.

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Source: The Irish Times, 17 December 2019