THE use of controversial orders which confine residents to hospital beds and care home rooms has “increased significantly” in recent months.

The number of Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards applied for in Sussex has rocketed since a Supreme Court ruling earlier this year.

Councils dealt with almost as many applications in the first quarter of 2014/15 as in all of the previous financial year.

Officials said that the increase was reflected nationwide and their use was as “limited as possible”.

Applications for deprivation of liberty are made to councils by care homes and hospitals and are considered by nurses, social workers or occupational therapists.

The orders were criticised last year by lawyers, who claimed they were being used by staff with insufficient training leading to vulnerable people being locked up without property authority.

Last year, The Argus said the orders were used on people as young as 23.

However, councils welcomed the recent court ruling for providing greater clarity.

West Sussex County Council received the highest number, with 171 in the first three months of the year, compared with 225 for the whole of 2013/14.

More than 85% were granted in the first quarter, compared with 74% in the whole of 2013/14.

Brighton and Hove City Council received 54 applications in the first quarter of the year, with 87% granted. This compared with 37 for the whole of 2013/14, of which only 43% were approved.

East Sussex County Council received 113 applications in three months this year, granting 59%, compared with 166 for the whole of 2013/14 when only 40% were accepted.

East Sussex County Council said deprivation was as “limited as possible” to keep the person safe and must end as soon as the person has recovered their capacity.

The Supreme Court ruling made the definition of Deprivation of Liberty clearer, a spokesman adding: “Because of this, and as a matter of good practice by care homes and hospitals, we have seen an increase in applications.”

Brighton and Hove City Council said it had seen a “significant increase” since the ruling. A spokesman added: “This is certainly not about saving money, as the local authority is facing additional expenditure as a result of the ruling.”

West Sussex County Council said it has a multidisciplinary body, which meets regularly to discuss the orders.