THE use of rapid tranquilisation being used to sedate dementia patients over the past year is “nice and low”, the Health Department has said – a year after major concerns were raised by charity leaders at the frequency of its usage.
Giving strong sedative injections to distressed dementia patients is supposed to only be used as a medical backstop when all other options to calm a patient have failed.
Last year, the Health and Care Jersey Quality Account 2024 report revealed that the rapid use of tranquilisation led to a number of unexpected incidents which could have, or did, lead to harm for those receiving care.
Now, figures revealed through a Freedom of Information request by the JEP, showed that between March 2025 and March this year, the method – which can involve tranquilisation being administered via injection or intravenously – was used on 22 occassions to 13 out of 578 dementia patients admitted to the Hospital.
Data from previously years has not been made available.
Andy Weir, director of Mental Health, Social Care and Community Services, said: “As you can see, rapid tranquilisation is used very rarely in patients with dementia, and this is closely monitored through our clinical governance processes.”
Patricia Winchester, chief executive of My Voice, a charity that advocates for patients, who sit on the board that monitors the use of this practice, said that “13 is actually nice and low”, adding that on average this would be “one a month”.
However, she said that the board will continue to closely monitor the use of the method to ensure there will not be any significant jumps.
She explained that the board looks at the circumstances that led to the incidents to see if a spike relates to one individual, rather than a wider increase of the use rapid tranquilisation.
Last year, Claudine Snape, chief executive of Dementia Jersey, said when the charity wrote the Dementia Strategy with the Government in 2023, it was “alarmed” by the frequent use of it at the Hospital.
A year on, Ms Snape said the charity “recognises and welcomes the steps the government has taken to review practice, improve monitoring and strengthen staff training”.
She added that the focus should now be “preventing the distress that leads to its use in the first place”, something that Mr Weir said was among his department’s priorities.
He added: “Our focus remains on providing safe, compassionate and person-centered care for people living with dementia when they require admission to hospital.”
