HIQA reveals practice of physically restraining clients at Meath care home

A damning new report into another care home has been released.

The practice of physically restraining clients at a centre in Co Meath for people with intellectual disabilities is being heavily criticised in the new report from the Health Information and Quality Authority, which is being published today.

An inspection by HIQA says a high number of frequent and intensive physical interventions and restrictive measures were used in the Redwood Extended Care Facility in Stamullen on a regular basis.

HIQA says it was notified of 772 such incidents in a 11-month period.

The high level of restrictive practice and restraint used included locked doors - both internally and doors that exited the centre - and residents being confined to specific rooms, sometimes for significant periods of time.

Physical restraint included the enforced removal of residents to designated areas of the centre, and a number of staff physically holding residents in a position.