Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act 2018 statutory guidance
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Summary We want your views on the statutory guidance to prevent the inappropriate use of force and ensure transparency and accountability about the use of force in mental health units. This consultation closes at
Consultation description
The use of force includes:
physical, mechanical or chemical restraint of a patient
the isolation of a patient, including seclusion and segregation
The Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act became law in November 2018. The aim of the Act and the statutory guidance is to:
clearly set out the measures that are needed to both prevent the inappropriate use of force
Mental health nurses demand end to delays to new patient restraint law
Houses of Parliament
New legislation that seeks to end the inappropriate use of physical force against mental health patients must be implemented without further delay, a leading nurse has warned.
Prompted by the death of Olaseni Lewis, a 23-year-old Black man, Seni’s Law received royal assent in November 2018 but has still not been brought into force.
“The government absolutely must make this a priority, because enough is enough
Evri Anagnostara
The government said the Covid-19 pandemic had meant the work on rolling out the legislation – officially called the Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act 2018 – had to be paused but this had now been resumed.
In Britain, most of these violent and restrictive practices occur on mental health wards.
Those affected are hidden away, their families on a seemingly never-ending search for justice.
Kyle , a teenager, was pounced upon by at least seven men in an incident in 2015.
They tackled him to the floor. A large man straddled his back, his hands squashing Kyle’s face onto the rough carpet.
With his body crushed, he gasped for air. The other men trapped his legs and arm in place using their knees, while another yanked his arm across his back, which made Kyle howl in pain.