Freedom of Information Request – Ref: FOI 424-2025
Thank you for your recent Freedom of Information request. Please find our response below.
You asked:
1a: Are plastic bin liners used on psychiatric inpatient wards run by your Trust?
Our response:
In patient accessible areas within adult Inpatient Acute services, bins are used with rigid plastic removable liners which do not require bin bags.
You asked:
1b: If they are not allowed, when were they prohibited?
Our response:
Not applicable.
You asked:
1c. How many incidents of inpatient self-harm involving plastic bin liners have there been in the last five years (specifically 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 & 2024)?
Our response:
Four recorded as self-harm incidents.
You asked:
1d. How many inpatient deaths involving plastic bin liners have there been in the last five years (specifically 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 & 2024)?
Our response:
The Trust does not record the reason for death on Datix.
You asked:
2a: Are other types of plastic bags (i.e. not bin liners) allowed into psychiatric inpatient wards run by your Trust?
Our response:
In Older Persons Inpatient Services, bins are used with a lockable bin bag retention system which renders the bin bag very difficult to remove without the appropriate key for the locking arrangement.
You asked:
2b: If they are not allowed, when were they prohibited?
Our response:
Adult inpatient acute globally removed bin bags from patient areas in approximately 2017 in the context of the CQC brief guide on restrictive interventions which added plastic bags to the suggested prohibited items list.
You asked:
2c. How many incidents of inpatient self-harm involving plastic bags (excluding bin liners counted above) have there been in the last five years (specifically 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 & 2024)?
Our response:
Four recorded as self-harm incidents.
You asked:
2d: How many inpatient deaths involving plastic bags (excluding bin liners counted above) have there been in the last five years (specifically 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 & 2024)?
Our response:
The Trust does not record the reason for death on Datix.
Next steps:
Should you have any queries in relation to our response, please do not hesitate to contact us. If you are unhappy with the response you have received in relation to your request and wish to ask us to review our response, you should write to:
Louise Moss
Head of Legal Services / Associate Director of Corporate Governance
c/o Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust
Edward Jenner Court
1010 Pioneer Avenue
Gloucester Business Park
Brockworth, GL3 4AW
E-mail: louise.moss@ghc.nhs.uk
If you are not content with the outcome of any review, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for further advice/guidance. Generally, the ICO will not consider your case unless you have exhausted your enquiries with the Trust which should include considering the use of the Trust’s formal complaints procedure. The ICO can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.