SERVICE-USER AND STAFF SAFETY


Building facilities to keep staff and users safe


Keeping service-users, visitors, and staff in mental health facilities safe is key, and such buildings’ infrastructure has to be designed with this in mind, while supporting the care practices in place. Creating therapeutic, welcoming, and positive spaces that fulfil both aesthetic and practical elements of care has, meanwhile, been proven to impact on patient and staff well-being. Phil Barsby, Business Development manager at Intastop, explains how the company supports the mental healthcare sector through in-depth research, collaboration, and product development.


The nation’s mental health continues to be under scrutiny, and the ongoing campaign by various influencers and notable people to raise awareness and remove the stigma associated with all elements of mental health has been particularly relevant during the current global solution. However, as on- the-street awareness grows, and people are encouraged to treat their mental health as importantly as their physical health, for some individuals, intervention and specialist care – in either an inpatient or an outpatient setting – are required.


The UK mental health sector continues to deliver essential inpatient and outpatient care to individuals and their families. It is estimated, by mental health charity, Mind, that one in four people will develop a mental health problem each year in the UK, and, with further challenging times ahead for many, it is expected that services will be more in demand than ever. The Mental Health Foundation’s Coronavirus: Mental Health in the Pandemic study highlights the challenges felt by all – ranging from loneliness, to those exhibiting signs of more serious illness, and while we recognise that the pandemic’s impact is not the only trigger factor for people needing to seek help, it will certainly contribute to an increased demand across all elements of the sector.


Everyone’s mental health is different


Currently, people have more to deal with, and to coin a popular phrase with reference to the nation’s mental health, ‘We are all in the same storm, but not in the same boat’. This highlights how everyone’s mental health is different; it’s important that respect and recognition are given to all, and this has been the case in all elements of the care that has been available from NHS England in recent years.


The impact of coronavirus will highlight, but may not change, the way that different organisations within the sector have worked together to ensure that appropriate care facilities are available, and that everything is done to protect both patients


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Intastop’s Aspex wall protection sheet.


and staff. To mitigate the impact of extra demand on services it is important that those available services are effective, and that they deliver tangible results for each and every patient. The specialist medical and nursing care is one element of this, but the settings in which patients and service- users are treated have been proven to be of equal importance.


Building design – practical and safe for all


The design of a space that is calming and positively engaging is the first step in creating an environment to support open lines of communication, and make patients feel safe and reassured. Achieving this goal with products that combine practicality and safety is the preferred solution in all areas of care, be that on an appointment basis, or in residential, longer-term care. Choosing products that are practical may involve choosing furniture that is easy to clean, and that is secured when appropriate, or, for instance, specialist anti- ligature ironmongery on doors. It would also apply to elements such as wall protection products which – through their innovative anti-bacterial properties – can aid cleaning, manage the reduction of HCAIs (healthcare-associated infections), and support cost-effective repair and maintenance strategies.


Intastop says that historic data has shown that doortop alarms ‘play a vital role in protecting people’.


In addition to the practicalities of cleaning and infection control, areas of high traffic can also be protected by installing an impact protection sheet.


OCTOBER 2020 | THE NETWORK


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