Seán Ryan (Dublin North, Labour)
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Question 123: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her proposals for the development of regulations surrounding the use of restraints in nursing homes and care facilities here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41490/06]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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In relation to the standard and quality of services and facilities in nursing homes the Nursing Homes (Care and Welfare) Regulations 1993, made under the Health (Nursing Homes) Act 1990, set out the standards which private nursing homes must adhere to. Article 19.1(h) of the Regulations state that "In every nursing home the following particulars shall be kept in a safe place in respect of each dependent person; a record of any occasion on which physical or chemical restraint is used, the nature of the restraint and its duration". In addition, a Working Group was established by the Department to develop standards for residential care settings, both public and private, for older people.

The Department is currently in discussion with the interim Health Information and Quality Authority in relation to a consultation process on the draft standards. These draft standards deal with best practice in relation to the use of restraints in all residential care settings for older people.