Overview
- An 18‑month study across nine wards in six NHS trusts, based on more than 1,000 interviews with 168 patients and staff, found almost every observed dementia patient experienced some form of restraint.
- Restrictive practices documented included raised bed rails, tray‑tables that trap patients in chairs, furniture blocking movement, one‑to‑one supervision by nurses or security, physical restraint, and use of sedatives or antipsychotics.
- Patients described feeling imprisoned or kidnapped, and the report warns that being labelled aggressive in notes can lead to withdrawal of social care packages and block discharge back home or to care settings.
- The review recommends mandatory recording and justification of any restraint, better support to help staff recognise distress linked to confinement, and clearer guidance so patients can leave the bedside safely without fear of liability.
- NHS England said people with dementia should be treated with dignity and that restrictive practices must be a last resort, while Alzheimer’s Society condemned the findings and urged improvements in staffing, training and care approaches.