Reducing harm from ligatures in mental health wards and wards for people with a learning disability

Technology is now a central component in everyday living, and it is also developing quickly in health care. We should consider how we can use technology to help us with the challenges we face when trying to maintain patient safety.

It makes sense for us to use all available resources to understand and manage self-harm better. An individualised approach must be the priority because patients’ needs and motivations differ.

Digital technology gives us new opportunities to provide inpatient services differently. With strong clinical leadership to embed a positive culture to support the use of technology, this can complement the therapeutic relationship, the most important element of patient safety.

Use of technology must be subject to checks on safety, accuracy, effectiveness and suitability. Other important considerations are the absence of much research on the benefits of technology and concerns about how using it can affect patients’ privacy and dignity.Use of vision based technology should take into account a patient’s need for privacy, and used only with the patient’s consent or in their best interests as agreed as part of a recognised process.

Services must take care not to rely on technology as an alternative to direct staff involvement with patients. For example, personal involvement might identify risks or signs of distress that technology cannot. Any concerns could then be dealt with before the patient reaches a crisis.

Ward-based clinical staff may benefit from training on new products. This could be via a service level agreement by product providers or internal sessions. This would be in addition to regular ligature training.

There is more information about Technology in care on CQC's website.