Abstract
Aims and MethodWe conducted a telephone survey of medium secure units in England and Wales to determine the distribution of women patients.ResultsThe survey identified 1836 medium secure beds, housing 342 women patients. Women in the NHS were housed primarily in mixed-gender units (170 women, 94%). Most NHS beds in single-gender units were for men (56 beds), whereas most private sector beds in single-gender units were for women (79 beds).Clinical ImplicationsIncreased awareness of the often inappropriateness of services for women in mixed-gender units has led to units deciding not to admit women patients and, inadvertently, more single-gender beds for men in NHS units than for women. The NHS units have to rely on private sector units to provide beds in single-gender units for women, perhaps at the expense of effective continuity of care.
Highlights
Both the Department of Health and Women in Secure Hospitals (WISH) are eager to see the services for women improved
The Home Office and Department of Mental Health and Social Security (1975) defined regional secure units in terms of the type of patients they should serve, and 20 years later medium secure units were defined by the length of care and treatment needed to alleviate the patients' condition (Special Hospitals Service Authority, 1995)
It would seem that the termmedium secure unit' is a historical one that encompasses units and patients with different designations
Summary
The survey identified 1836 medium secure beds, housing 342 women patients. Women in the NHS were housed primarily in mixedgender units (170 women, 94%). There are two issues defining the current debate on the provision of secure services for women: women patients in mixed-gender units are vulnerable; and women in special hospitals do not require high secure care. Both the Department of Health and Women in Secure Hospitals (WISH) are eager to see the services for women improved. The authors conducted a telephone survey, as part of a wider study, of medium secure units in England and Wales to determine the distribution of women patients and to explore the impact of the current debate on the provision of secure services for women.
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