My Experience in the First Female Psychiatric Intensive care unit in NHS in UK

Abstract

Introduction:

A new PICU for women was opened in January 2007, and was the first Unit of its kind in the NHS. It provides an inpatient care for women detained under Mental Health Act 1983 with serious mental illness. The main group of service users comprises women with borderline personality disorder. Median length of stay is 6-12 weeks.The team is multidisciplinary and works closely to ensure that effective gender sensitive care is delivered. As a very new team we experienced powerful internal dynamics for the first year. Lots of support groups, supervisions and psycho educational activities are provided for our staff members by different experts.The therapeutic model is in the process of development and is based on mentalisation theory. An audit on “Care after Intramuscular Rapid Tranquilization” was undertaken on the ward.

Objective:

To present a very new service for women including powerful dynamics within the team, a model of care provided for our client group and audit results.

Method:

Descriptive.

Conclusions:

1. 1. It illustrates the powerful feelings of the staff during treatment of female service users (the results of analysis of the questionnaire will be provided) within PICU and the way we managed to deal effectively with it.

2. 2. It clarifies the amount of resources demanded for treatment of this client group.

3. 3. Audit results reveal the progress made in care after service users are given rapid tranquilisation in 06-08/2007-2008.

4. 4. It illustrates that the process of agreeing a model of care, as well as the model itself, in a PICU setting is very useful activity.