Restraint of patients in psychiatric hospitals in England and Wales.

Abstract

The restraint of patients is one of the important aspects of the regime in psychiatric hospitals. It has been an issue in hospitals over the years because it interferes with the personal freedom of patients. Most recently it was one of the matters raised in X NHS Foundation Trust v RH [2024] EWCOP 150. This paper aims to add to the awareness of it by looking at what it means, the forms it may take and the justifications for it. It is concluded that restraint of patients is controversial but reasonable and necessary at times in the interests of the patient's own health/safety or that of others.