Specific NICE recommendations [7,8] have been put in place to ensure the safety of both the staff and other patients in emergency departments:
Systems should be in place for placing alerts on those known to pose a threat of violence |
Interview rooms should be of the standard set by the RCP [3] |
Chaperones should be present during an assessment and regular checks provided by other staff, for example every five minutes |
Psychiatric assessment should be available in the emergency department within one hour |
Mental health nurses should be employed within the emergency department |
Lorazepam is recommended as 1st line for rapid tranquilisation |