Close to 3,000 cases of physical restraint

Seclusion and physical and mechanical restraint using chairs and bandages were used 5,370 times on patients in psychiatric units during 2010, according to the State’s mental health watchdog.

Of the three restrictive interventions reported to the Mental Health Commission (MHC), physical restraint was used most frequently.

During 2010, there were 2,985 physical restraint episodes and 2,371 seclusion episodes. Mechanical restraint was used 14 times.

St Joseph’s intellectual disability services in Portrane and St Brendan’s Hospital in Grangegorman, both in Dublin, accounted for 50.5% of all seclusion episodes in 2010.

However, the MHC pointed out it was important to put these figures into context. “St Brendan’s Hospital serves as a secure unit for the greater Dublin area, for example,” a spokes-person said.

“While St Joseph’s intellectual disability services recorded the highest number of seclusion episodes, almost all [99.7%] seclusion episodes there lasted for less than four hours, which is typically less than other approved centres.”

The MHC also noted that for the first time a child and adolescent centre reported using seclusion.

Asked if the figures were excessive, the spokesperson said: “The Mental Health Commission is committed to encouraging mental health services to adopt a seclusion reduction strategy and intend to work with them in 2012 to achieve this.”

However, the report states the commission will begin a seclusion and physical restraint reduction strategy in 2012. It is envisaged that such a strategy will be implemented nationwide. The draft strategy acknowledges the crucial role played by data in assisting efforts to reduce the use of these interventions.

In 2010, 29 (43.3%) of approved centres recorded episodes of seclusion.