نے سے
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1985
DR THONG POINTED OUT THAT A RESTRAINER WAS AN AID TO NURSING AND ITS USE DID NOT MEAN CONFINEMENT AND COMPLETE IMMOBILISATION OF THE PATIENT.
IN FACT, THE USUAL FORM OF RESTRAINERS USED IN THE WARDS WAS A VEST WORN IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE PATIENT WAS ALLOWED A COMFORTABLE RANGE OF MOVEMENTS CONSISTENT WITH HIS CONDITION, AND WHICH WAS REMOVED AS SOON AS IT WAS NO LONGER REQUIRED, HE EXPLAINED.
REFERRING TO A SUGGESTION THAT A BETTER NURSING-STAFFING RATIO MIGHT MINIMISE OR EVEN ELIMINATE THE USE OF RESTRAINERS ENTIRELY. THE DIRECTOR SAID THAT ACCORDING TO HIS STAFF. IT MIGHT NOT BE POSSIBLE IN PRACTICE TO DISPENSE WITH THE USE OF RESTRAINERS ALTOGETHER.
+THIS IS BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SITUATIONS OR CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH WILL REQUIRE THE USE OF RESTRAINERS IRRESPECTIVE OF THE NUMBERS OF STAFF IN THE WARDS.+
FURTHER, HE SAID, THERE MUST BE A LIMIT TO INCREASE IN STAFF RATIO IN PRACTICE BY REASON OF THE FACT THAT MANPOWER RESOURCES WERE FINITE.
+ IMPROVED STAFF RATIO THEREFORE CANNOT BE CONSIDERED AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE USE OF RESTRAINERS WHICH ARE APPLIED FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES, HE SAID.
DR THONG FURTHER EXPLAINED THAT ON THE OTHER HAND, THE EXTENT TO WHICH RESTRAINERS WERE USED MIGHT VARY WITH DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES IN WARDS, DIFFERENT TYPES OF PATIENTS, DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS ETC.
HOWEVER, HE AGREED WITH THE VIEW THAT MOTHERS WHO WERE ALLOWED TO STAY WITH THEIR CHILDREN MIGHT BE OF HELP IN MINIMISING THE USE OF RESTRAINERS.
HE SAID THAT VISITING HOURS OF CHILDREN WARDS IN PUBLIC HOSPITALS WERE VERY FLEXIBLE AND CONSIDERABLY LONGER THAN THOSE OF ADULT WARDS.
+ IN APPROPRIATE CASES, MOTHERS ARE ALSO ALLOWED TO REMAIN WITH THEIR CHILDREN OVERNIGHT, HE SAID.
DR THONG SAID THAT IN ALL FUTURE MAJOR HOSPITALS, SPECIAL MOTHER-ROOMS ARE INCLUDED AND THIS WILL HELP TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION FURTHER.