HSCIC report big rise in restraint applications

The number of safeguarding applications to deprive people of their freedom through the use of techniques such as restraint has soared, new figures show.

In the first three months of 2014/15 there were at least 21,600 applications made by councils in England – which surpasses the total number of applications put forward in 2013/14.

The latest figure represents a 74% rise on the 12,400 applications made throughout the whole of last year, according to the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC).

Deprivation of liberty safeguards are intended to ensure that a care home or hospital only deprives someone of their liberty in a safe and correct way when they lack capacity.

They should only be applied when it is in the best interests of the person and there is no other way to look after them.

Examples of deprivation include a patient being restrained, medication being given against their will, staff having complete control over a patient’s care or movements and staff making all decisions about a patient.

Of the applications made so far this year 51% were granted, 12% were not and the remaining had not yet been completed.

HSCIC said that since the safeguarding measure was introduced in 2009 applications have increased year on year.

It said the significant rise at the start of this year could be down to a Supreme Court ruling which expanded applications to include deprivations that are unopposed by the patient.

“The increase in applications has shown that councils have been quick to act on the Supreme Court judgment about when it is appropriate to deprive an individual of their liberty,” said HSCIC chairman Kingsley Manning.

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