Despite repeated warnings from ministers and health experts about the dangers, mental health patients are still being restrained face down by staff thousands of times each year.
Prone restraint, a controversial method where individuals are held chest down to de-escalate situations, has been a contentious issue for years and has even resulted in fatalities among those with mental health issues.
In response to concerns raised in 2014, the government acknowledged the risks associated with prone restraint and urged mental health units in England to phase out its use due to the potential harm it poses.
However, recent NHS data obtained by the Liberal Democrats reveals that face-down restraint was employed 5,247 times in 2023 and 3,732 times within the first ten months of this year alone. This concerning trend has prompted calls for action from figures like Danny Chambers MP.
Both the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) and Care Quality Commission advise against using prone restraint unless absolutely necessary, emphasizing the importance of minimizing its duration when utilized.
Government guidelines from 2021 explicitly prohibit intentional face-down restraint on any surface as a preventive measure against potential harm to individuals under care.
…