Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The use of force, minimal or otherwise, should not be encouraged in any circumstances, however limited. That the Health Service Executive was examining the possibility of staff members having to use minimal force is what caused concern among staff representatives and patients. Mr. O'Brien stated the memorandum had been withdrawn.

Am I to take it that the memo is withdrawn so therefore the HSE is very clear that nurses, midwives, doctors, porters etc. will never be required - or asked in any way, shape or form - to use force, however minimal, to remove a patient from a bed? Mr. O'Brien referred to specific cases where people would not move on to more appropriate care. Mr. O'Brien will be aware that in very many instances people are stuck in hospital beds because there is not more appropriate care available for them. He must understand that the use of the word "force", even with the word "minimal" in front of it, is going to set alarm bells ringing. Mr. O'Brien has the opportunity now, if he could, to put a bit of distance between himself and that phrase, which is the one that caused concern.