Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2brh9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T06:07:42.874Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Survey of locked facilities in Scottish psychiatric hospitals

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Alan Smith
Alan Smith*
Affiliation:
Institute of Criminology, University of Cambridge, 7 West Rood Cambridge CB3 9DT
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

A postal questionnaire survey of intensive care units/ locked wards in Scottish psychiatric hospitals revealed a lack of structural security features (other than a locked door) and an absence of personal alarm systems for staff in a substantial minority of units. The main reasons for transfer to locked units were physical violence to others and absconding risk, and the commonest diagnosis was schizophrenia. Transfer of in-patients not detained under mental health legislation was not uncommon. Differences in practice with regard to the transfer process were evident. In Scotland local locked facilities play an important role in secure provision and further evaluative research is required.

Type
Original Papers
Information
Psychiatric Bulletin , Volume 21 , Issue 2 , February 1997 , pp. 77 - 79
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
Copyright © 1997 The Royal College of Psychiatrists

References

Basson, J. V. & Woodside, M. L. (1981) Assessment of a secure/intensive care/forensic ward. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 64, 132–141.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bell, G. M. (1955) A mental hospital with open doors. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 1, 42–48.Google Scholar
Bowden, P. (1975) Liberty and psychiatry. British Medical Journal 4, 94–96.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Confederation of Health Service Employees (1977) The Management of Violent and Potentially Violent Patients. Banstead: COHSE.Google Scholar
Department of Health (1992) Review of Health and Social Services for Mentally Disordered Offenders and Others Requiring Similar Services (Reed Report). Cmnd. 2088. London: HMSO.Google Scholar
Dix, R. (1995) A nurse-led psychiatric intensive care unit. Psychiatric Bulletin, 19, 285–287.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Health and Safety Executive (1992) New Health and Safety at Work Regulations. Sheffield: Health and Safety Executive.Google Scholar
Institute of Health Services Management (1994) The Hospital and Health Service Year Book. London: IHSM.Google Scholar
Mandelbrote, B. (1958) An experiment in the rapid conversion of a closed mental hospital into an open-door hospital. Mental Hygiene, 42, 3–16.Google Scholar
Ministry of Health (1961) Special Hospitals: Report of a Working Party (The Emery Report). London: HMSO.Google Scholar
Stern, E. S. (1957) Operation sesame, Lancet 1, 577–578.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Submit a response

eLetters

No eLetters have been published for this article.