Specific NICE Recommendations (Grade D) for EDs

Specific NICE recommendations [7,8] have been put in place to ensure the safety of both the staff and other patients in emergency departments:

Table 1: NICE recommendations for EDs

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