06.12.13
Challenging patient behaviour is a sign of unmet need – NHS Protect
New guidance seeks to protect staff from challenging patient behaviour related to clinical conditions. Launched today by NHS Protect, the guidance highlights the importance of good communication, compassion and trust to prevent such behaviour, as well as practical strategies for when things go wrong.
Such behaviour makes it difficult to deliver good care safely and can range from uncooperative patients to potentially dangerous behaviour. But such action is often a sign of distress and unmet need rather than any intent to be challenging, NHS Protect stated.
Andrew Masterman, policy lead, violence strategy, NHS Protect: “The aim of this important new guidance is to assist staff in preventing clinically related challenging behaviour by anticipating an individual’s needs, reducing their distress and delivering the highest quality care. It provides a practical approach on how to prevent challenging behaviour and where it occurs to manage it safely. It also provides staff with a consistent approach, so that anyone can adopt it in any NHS setting. That is its real strength.”
Dr Mike Durkin, director of patient safety, NHS England: “The challenge of keeping patients safe at times when they are outwardly exhibiting challenging behaviour has been increasingly recognised over the last few years. ‘Meeting needs and reducing distress’ provides a welcome focus on an area of healthcare that can cause high levels of anxiety for patients, their families and healthcare professionals.
“This is part of a wide and far-reaching programme of work being developed on the avoidance and safe management of restraint, to ensure every step is taken to keep risk to a minimum and that safety is paramount.”
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