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A survey of the Regional Secure Unit programme.
The British Journal of Psychiatry : the Journal of Mental Science
|November 1, 1985
Summary
Delays in establishing secure forensic mental health units were due to staffing and salary issues, not construction. This highlights a need for further health service innovation for underprivileged patients.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Psychiatry
- Health Services Management
Background:
- The 1975 Butler Report recommended the establishment of secure units.
- Progress in implementing secure units between 1982 and 1984 was evaluated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To survey progress in building secure units.
- To identify reasons for delays in policy implementation.
- To compare different Regional Secure Unit (RSU) designs and staffing models.
Main Methods:
- Survey of secure unit development.
- Analysis of RSU designs, staffing policies, and forensic service models.
- Identification of limiting factors in program progress.
Main Results:
- Building of secure units progressed, but implementation faced delays.
- Key challenges shifted from construction to securing and funding suitable staff.
- Regional Secure Unit designs and staffing policies varied.
Conclusions:
- The primary obstacle to expanding secure units is now staffing and salaries, not infrastructure.
- Further health service innovation is required to address the needs of underprivileged patient groups within the secure unit program.