Dear Southern District Health Board,

Can you please provide all policy documents relating to restraint practices at Southern District Health Board?

Are there instances in the last year (June 2016 to June 2017) of the use of mechanical restraints? (i.e. strapping arms to bed)

Can you please provide this data for both physical and mental health services and identify the service associated with this data.

Yours faithfully,

Health Sector Workers Network

Dear Sarah Byrne,

Thank you for this information.

We have considered your response and would like some further information in order to meet the initial request for information.

1) Are you able to clarify the data around the ‘instances’ of use of mechanical restraint (or physical restraint by SDHB’s definition)? For example, type of physical restraint and duration. According to SDHB policy, this data should be available in the Restraint Register (housed in Safety 1st). This should document the start and finish times of physical restraints and the type of restraints used. Obviously the presentation of this data should be anonymised for the protection of privacy.

2) The OIA request was for “all policy documents” on the use of mechanical restraints. Could you also provide the “Use of Recommended Mechanical Restraint Methods Guideline” policy document? This policy is referenced in the Restraint Minimisation and Safe Practice Procedure document provided.

Yours sincerely,

Health Sector Workers Network