Hospitals and psychiatric institutions XX  Flexible personnel planning systems must be implemented in medical facilities in order to facilitate fast reaction to concrete conditions and existing requirements. XX  Attention must be given to an appreciative approach when caring for persons with mental illnesses in order to avoid a feeling of powerlessness and degradation. XX  The prescription of PRN medication must be precise and in accordance with the legal requirements. 2.2.3 Protection of personal integrity Application of measures that restrict freedom Measures that restrict freedom are only permissible if they are applied to avert a serious or considerable danger to the life or health of the patient or others, or if they support medical treatment or care and are not inappropriate. Therefore, it must be examined on a case-by-case basis whether measures that restrict freedom are absolutely necessary to reach this goal both qualitatively (type of measure) and quantitatively (spatial scope and duration of measure). Restrictions of freedom can only be considered as a last resort in which case the principle of minimum possible intervention applies. The NPM observed in the current year under review that these requirements regarding restraints are not always complied with in practice in psychiatric hospitals. Restraints in beds in hallways and in shared rooms In the absence of a specially designated room, restraints were often applied in the hallway or in shared rooms in the presence of other patients. This kind of approach is absolutely unacceptable, as the privacy and personal space of those affected is violated and other patients can be frightened and traumatised when they experience coercive measures. A similar situation is, for example, when people can see into rooms designated for restraints. In cases like these, the NPM normally succeeded in having some form of privacy screen installed in the relevant wards. Furthermore, restraints are still applied in which only an abdominal restrain (one-point restraint) is used, even though this is associated with a greater risk of strangulation and does not comply with the specifications of the manufacturers. The NPM still insists that 1:1 supervision is ensured if possible in the event of a restraint. Supervision of this type would, however, be advisable as a pre-emptive measure in order to avoid having to restrict the freedom of the patient in the first place. Follow-up meetings have alleviating effect 48 Follow-up meetings after the application of a measure that restricts freedom have an important function. They help in working through the experience and are seen as a relief by those affected. Studies and reports from former patients prove that follow-up meetings make it easier to cope with these experiences,