Hospital stays - putting safety first
I have always felt strongly about having same sex wards after my experience as a voluntary inpatient in 2003. I was horrified at the behaviour of some of the men towards me, and it exacerbated my condition, which was in the first place due to fear of harrasment, but this was never addressed."
Campaign for safe and appropriate hospital care
Although mental health hospitals should provide a safe retreat for people who are too distressed to be at home, this is not always the case. Some hospital environments are so unsafe and inappropriate that they hinder rather than help recovery. Violent incidents, forced treatment and the use of physical restraint are all too common. Mixed sex wards can cause feelings of vulnerability – particularly in women; lack of activity fuels boredom and tensions, and limited staff time leaves patients without someone to talk to when they need it most.
We believe:
- care in mental health hospitals should be safe, therapeutic and backed up by well trained staff and patient consultation.
Read our evidence to the House of Commons Health Committee inquiry into patient safety. (link to UK Parliament website)
What we are fighting for
We want:
- all hospital accommodation in England and Wales – including sleeping areas, washing and toilet facilities, and day space (where appropriate) – to be same sex
- the publication of long-promised guidance on the therapeutic management of violence, and accredited training in physical restraint interventions to be mandatory for relevant staff
- all mental health staff to receive training in preventing and managing violence through non-physical methods
- patients to be involved in the design or re-design of hospital wards
- hospitals to meet quality standards requiring the provision of a good range of activities and therapies, access to fresh air and green space, and sufficient staff time spent with service users.
Take action
Find out more
Tags (entire site): Hospital conditions, NHS services