The National Suicide Prevention Strategy for England outlines the standard and states that any ligature point in mental health services inpatient environments must be removed or covered. As a development of this standard, all mental health and private care providers must complete environmental risk assessments with management plans to mitigate the risks across inpatient areas to ensure patient safety at all times.
Without specific knowledge and training, many care providers find it difficult to understand whether the safety products that they have fitted are fit for purpose, installed correctly and are working properly.
We have found that poor or incorrect fitting of these products has been quite common with little or no post inspections or planned preventative maintenance. Over the last twenty years ligature resistant products have developed at a pace and many early products fitted have been superseded or are now beyond their useful life.
Our team of consultants can provide a detailed safety audit which will include:
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Examine whether the reduced ligature items have been fitted correctly, in accordance with manufacturer's fitting instructions
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Identify and itemise the make and model of reduced ligature items fitted in inpatient areas
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Report on gaps between fitted products and the substrate they are attached to
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Comment on the age and condition of the reduced ligature products fitted within the environment
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Examine the suitability of fixings used to mount products
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Identify fittings including loose furniture that are unsuitable for the patient group
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Provide a condition report on all items fitted within each area including loose furniture
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Examine the wider patient environment including the garden areas for ligature issues and wider safety concerns
Items included:
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Windows, window restrictors, blinds, curtain rails and curtains
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Doors including mechanical locks, override systems, removable doorstops, hinges, closures, doorstops and vision panels
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Sanitaryware including toilet, basin, shower, drain covers, vents and extraction, shower rails, IPS panels, grab rails
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Ensuite doors & frames
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Washroom fittings: e.g. toilet roll holder, paper towel dispenser, soap dish, shelves, coat hooks etc
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Radiator covers and heat panels
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Fitted furniture including bedroom furniture, TV protection cabinets, tables and seating (Beds, wardrobes, etc)
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Lighting (surface mounted and flush fitted)
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Art installations
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Noticeboards
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Lines of sight / blind spots
Audits can include bedrooms, bathrooms, toilets, corridors, day areas, dining rooms, activity rooms, lounges, visitors’ rooms and patient consulting rooms
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As well as auditing the environment, the report will identify high risk areas of concern to assist in focussing resources toward creating a safe environment. We will categorise the risks to show areas of priority. In addition, we will also be happy to identify suitable products and remedial actions to address any issues found.
Types of survey available
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Full Audit of Inpatient Areas: A detailed examination of each room within the care provider's buildings. Purpose: to identify the physical state of the care environment including the products fitted and how they are functioning. The audit will assist care providers in identifying remedial work required to help create a safer environment as well as specifying the best suited products and work required for refurbishments or upgrades.
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Full Environment Health Check: This report examines critical areas on each unit/area within a mental health environment tailored to the client's needs. This could be to examine a hospital prior to commissioning or as a preventative measure where safety concerns have been raised. As well as auditing the physical environment, we can work through our findings and reports with our clients in a collaborative way to ensure policy and procedures are recognised and staff training can be given to identify any gaps in current practice.
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Price Guide:
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Full Audit: (based on a minimum of 10 rooms, a guide price below)
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Patient bedroom (including ensuite) £155.00 + VAT per room
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Patient bedroom (excluding ensuite) £95.00 + VAT per room
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Lounge / day area / dining room / activity room / garden area / bathroom £80.00 + VAT per room
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Full Audit report including photos and priority action list £485.00 + VAT (1 per order/visit)
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For larger units or complete hospitals, please contact us for a bespoke quotation.
Full Environment Health Check: Contact us for more details and to obtain a proposal on enquiries@protects-plus.co.uk
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