BOSSES at Lancashire Care have defended the trust’s use of prone restraint and other restrictive practices.

They said in a statement: “We’re aware that the last two years’ figures are high and we’re also aware of hotspots where this is above average, and we’re actively doing something to address this.

MORE TOP STORIES:

“However, we are clear that this is not down to a particular culture on wards.

“Prone restraint in particular has been a nationally accepted practice until recently, so Lancashire Care, along with all other trusts, are actively working to remove its use.”

They said the figures were accurate, but when asked to explain the increases pointed to improved reporting due to a new data system being implemented in 2013.

They also highlighted an improvement in the second half of last year.

And they said more people were now being treated in the community so the level of acuity and complexity of patients on the inpatient wards is higher.

Regarding the trust being among the top users of prone restraint and other restrictive practices in the country in 2013/14, they said the body that collected the data acknowledged it was not complete.

They added that ‘high levels of reporting can be indicative of a positive culture where staff are able to report incidents’.

Lancashire Care provides a wider range of inpatient beds than many trusts, making comparisons difficult, and has more patients suffering from psychosis who typically have more challenging needs, they said.

Independent assessors were also impressed by the efforts of staff on Burnley’s Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) to actively reduce the use of restraint, bosses added.