A new report from the Norwegian Ombudsman reveals a high risk that patients at the acute psychiatric ward of Nordland Hospital in Bodø were illegally restrained. The investigation found numerous instances of improper belt application, including one young patient being restrained 16 times in just over two months. Critically, the Ombudsman determined that nearly all decisions regarding restraint were made or approved by healthcare professionals lacking the legally required expertise. The report highlights significant failures in the hospital’s adherence to regulations governing the use of physical restraints on psychiatric patients. This raises serious concerns about patient safety and the quality of care provided at the facility. The Ombudsman’s findings are prompting calls for immediate review of restraint protocols and staff training at Nordland Hospital. The hospital has not yet issued a formal response to the report’s conclusions.