Orders to Restrain Elderly Patients Increase

New government figures reveal that thousands of disabled and elderly people are being restrained in care homes and hospitals.

Data from the Health and Social Care Information Centre shows that at least 21,600 Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) applications were made to 130 English councils between April and June this year.

The orders have to be issued to legally restrain patients in treatment facilities for their own health or safety. Since DoLS were introduced in 2009, applications have increased annually.