§ Paul FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospitals are taking part in the red card scheme; how many(a) red and (b) yellow cards have been issued; and what changes have been observed in the levels of violence to staff in the hospitals involved. [13722]
§ Ms BlearsThe Department issued national guidelines to national health service trusts to help develop policies on withholding NHS treatment from violent and abusive patients on 2 November 2001. All trusts must consider the need to develop a local policy on withholding treatment from violent and abusive patients. Such policies and procedures should form part of local policies addressing safer working conditions and should be in place by April 2002.
St. Bartholomews and the London NHS Trust introduced a policy on the withdrawal of treatment from violent patients, also known as the yellow and red card scheme, in September 2000. The policy has had a significant deterrent effect, and although the trust has issued eight yellow cards (formal written warnings), it has not proved necessary to issue red cards (withdrawal of treatment).