Tilting the balance: the first long-term medium secure unit in the NHS in England and Wales

Niamh Power,Dawn Harwood,Akintunde Akinkunmi

doi:10.1192/pb.30.1.25

Abstract

Rollo May Ward, a long-term medium secure facility integrated within the West London Mental Health National Health Service (NHS) Trust, is the first dedicated long-term NHS medium secure unit to have opened in England. It caters for a group of men with complex clinical needs and risk assessment issues who had previously been inappropriately detained within high secure services owing to a lack of suitable, less secure placement facilities. We describe the background to the development of the long-term medium secure service, the referral and assessment processes, the structure of the ward and the therapeutic programmes available to patients. We also outline the characteristics of the first 21 patients to be admitted to the ward and offer advice for similar future developments.

Highlights

Rollo May Ward, a long-term medium secure facility integrated within the West London Mental Health National Health Service (NHS) Trust, is the first dedicated longterm NHS medium secure unit to have opened in England
High secure services provide access to a wide range of educational, occupational and social facilities in addition to medical care, the level of security is associated with a greater degree of restriction than is necessary for many patients
The review of health and social services for mentally disordered offenders and others requiring similar services - the Reed report (Department of Health & Home Office, 1992) - established the principle that patients should be cared for under conditions of no greater security than is justified

Summary

Introduction

Rollo May Ward, a long-term medium secure facility integrated within the West London Mental Health National Health Service (NHS) Trust, is the first dedicated longterm NHS medium secure unit to have opened in England. High secure services (special hospitals) provide access to a wide range of educational, occupational and social facilities in addition to medical care, the level of security is associated with a greater degree of restriction than is necessary for many patients. The review of health and social services for mentally disordered offenders and others requiring similar services - the Reed report (Department of Health & Home Office, 1992) - established the principle that patients should be cared for under conditions of no greater security than is justified.

Results

Conclusion