What's happening?
Following the ‘Review of seclusion, restraint and observation of consumers with a mental illness in NSW
Health facilities’, we will implement the following recommendations.
To lead change in the use of restrictive practices, services need frequent and up-to-date local reports at the
unit level. This will enable staff, consumers, carers and families to access seclusion and restraint data to guide
quality improvement.
NSW Health has not had a statewide reporting system for seclusion and restraint in emergency departments.
This will change. Improved data collection and reporting will allow emergency departments to compare their
performance with others and track changes over time.
| 13. NSW Health should improve the
transparency, detail, and frequency of
publication of seclusion and restraint
data at the state and local level |
Use local data to inform quality improvement to reduce seclusion and
restraint
Further develop state level reporting of seclusion and restraint data |
|---|
| 14. The NSW seclusion and restraint data
collection and reporting should include
declared emergency departments |
Collect and report seclusion and restraint data from declared
emergency departments |
|---|
How can I be involved?
Every local health district and specialty health network will invite patients, carers and their families to be
included in designing their prevention action plans. To find out more, contact your
local health district.
Why is data important?
Data helps us to keep track of changes in the use of seclusion and restraint. Having information available
helps monitor progress towards the elimination of seclusion and restraint and is necessary for quality
improvement.
What data is collected and reported?
NSW Health began routine collection and reporting of seclusion data in mental health units in 2008, using a
nationally agreed definition. NSW Health began collecting and reporting of restraint in mental health units
in 2013.
NSW seclusion performance in mental health units is publicly reported in the NSW Health annual report and
the Bureau of Health Information’s Healthcare in Focus report. Seclusion and restraint data for each state and
territory is also now published publicly by the Australian Institute for Health and Welfare on the Mental Health
Services in Australia website.