We are experiencing increased verbal and physical violence / threat of same.
we do have well developed policies involving staff.
Clearly there are many detailed aspects to this - most importantly there
concern that someone is clinically ill. Many of our experiences involve
patients with personality disorder, those with uncomplicated alchohol excess
or uncomplicated overdose.
I would appreciate the experience of others in the areas of
1. Physical restraint
2. Searching / screening for offensive weapons
If a patient has been assessed by a senior A/E doctor as requiring no
specific medical treatment for their aggressive behaviour, is there a place
for physical restraint? At present we do this under medical and nursing
supervision using security trained porters - in order to prevent self injury
and injury to staff. This may require 2 or 3 porters over a considerable time
while medical and nursing observation and assessment continues. I ask if we
should not be using "Velcro" or leather restraints in these situations. There
wouldn't seem to be a great deal of difference legally but perhaps there is.
Is there experience of scanning or searching of patients - on reasonable
grounds? Once into the central area of our dept. a patient who gets out a
knife - as happened recently - poses a threat to everyone. A gun was
volunteered recently again in the central area.
Charlie Fee
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