Bathurst and Dubbo hospitals have a specialised acute mental health unit, while Orange has a mental health intensive care unit to treat patients with a higher level of clinical severity and complexity.

Of the 327 acute mental health episodes of care in Orange from January to March this year, there were 13 incidents of a patient being put in seclusion while restraints were used 11 times.

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This a decline on the same quarter in 2019 when there were 22 seclusion and 31 restraint occurrences, Bureau of Heath Information (BHI) data released on Wednesday shows.

In Dubbo there were 95 acute mental health episodes of care during the quarter, with seclusion and restraints used on patients less than five times each. This is up by two and one respectively on the previous quarter.

Staff at Bathurst recorded 87 acute mental health episodes with no patients put into seclusion or physical restraints during both reporting periods.

Patients in Orange and Dubbo spent far less time in seclusion than the NSW average of six hours and 21 minutes. NSW Health's target for seclusion is less than four hours.

In Orange the average seclusion time lasted for one hour and seven minutes.

Patients were also physically restrained for less time in Orange at an average of 25 minutes, compared to the NSW average of one hour and 36 minutes.

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Average seclusion and restraint times in Dubbo were suppressed due to low patient numbers and confidentiality.

The Western NSW Local Health District (LHD) issued a statement to say it was committed to reducing and where possible, eliminating seclusion and restraints, and providing the best possible mental health care and treatment in the least restrictive environment.

LHD mental health, drug and alcohol services director Jason Crisp said the number of seclusion or restraint events in most mental health units within the LHD continue to occur less frequently and for a shorter duration than has historically been the case.

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"Staff in the units work really hard with consumers to create an environment that reduces external stimulation, places the person at the centre of care and is sensitive to the individual circumstances that have led to each person's situation," he said.

The BHI report said seclusion and restraint interventions are not therapeutic and should only be used as a last resort when other options have been unsuccessful in maintaining safety for the patient, staff or others.

"Use of seclusion and restraint in hospitals can be affected by a range of factors including the mix of patients, local models of care, staffing levels and training, and the physical environment of the unit," the report stated.