XN000022-1985-04-03 — Page 23

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1985

USE OF RESTRAINERS STUDIED

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PUBLIC HOSPITALS HAD BEEN REQUESTED TO MONITOR AND REVIEW THE USE OF RESTRAINERS ON CHILDREN, THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR THE HON K.L. THONG, SAID TODAY.

THE MEASURES WERE INTENDED TO ENSURE THAT THE PRINCIPLES GOVERNING THE USE OF RESTRAINERS WERE OBSERVED, AND TO ENABLE PRACTICAL MEASURES TO BE TAKEN AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO MINIMISE SUCH USE IN THE HOSPITALS.

DR THONG SAID THE REQUEST HAD BEEN MADE IN VIEW OF THE GREAT CONCERN THAT HAD BEEN EXPRESSED IN PUBLIC OVER THE USE OF RESTRAINERS ON CHILDREN.+

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON HENRIETTA IP AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY, DR THONG ASSURED MEMBERS THAT HE SHARED THE CONCERN EXPRESSED ABOUT THE USE OF RESTRAINERS BUT ADDED THAT HE WOULD KEEP AN OPEN MIND ON THE SUBJECT.

+1 THINK IT IS FAIR TO SAY THAT AS A COMMON GROUND OF AGREEMENT, ALL CONCERNED ARE ANXIOUS TO SEE THAT THE YOUNG PATIENTS IN OUR HOSPITALS ARE GIVEN GOOD MEDICAL AND NURSING CARE AND BROUGHT BACK TO HEALTH AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IN SAFETY AND WITHOUT UNDUE HARM IN THE TREATMENT PROCESS, HE SAID.

HE SAID THAT RESTRAINERS WERE USED FROM TIME TO TIME IN PUBLIC HOSPITALS AS AN AID TO MEDICAL AND NURSING CARE AT THE DISCRETION OF THE ATTENDING NURSING PERSONNEL, AND IN THE INTEREST OF THE PATIENT HIMSELF.

HE EXPLAINED THAT RESTRAINERS WERE USED FOR THREE MAIN REASONS:

(A) AS PART OF GOOD NURSING AND MEDICAL CARE SO AS TO

PREVENT THE PATIENT FROM INTERFERRING WITH THE LIFE-SUPPORTING DEVICES AND MODES OF TREATMENT AND TO PROMOTE THE HEALING PROCESS;

(B) TO PREVENT THE PATIENT FROM INJURING HIMSELF; AND

(C) TO PREVENT THE PATIENT FROM FALLING.

HE SAID HE HAD BEEN ASSURED BY THE STAFF WORKING IN THE PAEDIATRIC WARDS THAT RESTRAINERS WERE USED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PRINCIPLE AND PRACTICE FOR THE USE OF SUCH, WHICH WERE

INHERENT IN THE TRAINING OF NURSING PERSONNEL.

+THESE RESTRAINERS ARE USED WITH DUE CARE AND ONLY WHEN CONSIDERED NECESSARY BY TRAINED STAFF AND EVEN THEN THEY ARE NOT REGARDED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR PERSONAL OBSERVATION BY THE STAFF,+ HE SAID.

/DR THONG