The University of West London (UWL) will continue to use expertise to support the care of people living with dementia during hospital stays thanks to a £1million funding grant. 

UWL’s Geller Institute of Ageing and Memory (GIAM) will now begin a 30-month interdisciplinary study exploring the use of restrictive practices on hospital wards in hope of identifying good practice and improving care.  

Funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and the Social Care Delivery Research programme, the study is being led by Dr Katie Featherstone, Professor of Sociology and Medicine and Director of GIAM. 

Continuing her research into understanding and improving the care people living with dementia receive during an acute hospital admission, the study will examine all aspects of the delivery of routine care and its impact on patients and ward staff.   

It will form the first in-depth piece of UK research into the use of restrictive practices and alternative ways of working within NHS hospital wards, including the various forms this takes, the impact on patients and their families, and outcomes for ward staff. Findings on best practice will then inform new strategies and training schemes within healthcare settings.    

Professor, Katie Featherstone said of the project:

Public enquiries and reports have repeatedly identified that restrictive practice is a significant feature in the care people living with dementia experience during a hospital admission.  

The practices are sometimes necessary to prevent injury, but can have negative consequences by reducing opportunities for patients to regain mobility and independence, by leading to distress and anxiety, and creating increased risk of emotional and physical burnout among ward staff."

This research will help us to better understand the everyday use of restrictive practices, as once we better understand the nature, reasons, and consequences of their use, we can help identify best practice and alternatives.” 

The study will be carried out with partners, Dementia UK, NHS Trusts and Health Boards, Leeds Beckett University, Cardiff University and Improvement Cymru, Public Health Wales. 

Find out more about work at the Geller Institute of Ageing and Memory.