Synopsis

This project examines the local implementation of the HSE Mental Health Services: Guideline on the Implementation and Use of the National Ligature Risk Reduction Audit Tool for Approved Centres (2024) within the Department of Psychiatry, Unit 5B, University Hospital Limerick. The initiative was led through a strengthened Ligature Reduction Strategy Group, bringing together the complementary expertise of Maintenance, Health & Safety, Quality, Risk & Patient Safety, the Registered Proprietor, and the ADON/CMN3 of the service. This multidisciplinary structure ensured that environmental, clinical, organisational, and regulatory perspectives were integrated into a unified, evidence driven approach to ligature risk mitigation.
To enhance the robustness of the local assessment, a bespoke audit was commissioned from Tony Crumpton, formerly Head of Safety and Security for a large NHS Mental Health Trust and now Sales Director with the Anti Ligature Shop. His external review provided an independent, specialist evaluation of ligature risk vulnerabilities and validated the centre’s interpretation of the national audit tool.
The implementation process demonstrated the value of collective capability, where diverse professional viewpoints contributed to a balanced, proportionate, and evidence based risk reduction strategy. The project highlights how structured collaboration, supported by national guidance and enriched by specialist external input, can enhance patient safety outcomes.