Working with women in secure environments.
1. Women's adverse experiences as patients in secure and other mental health services appear to reflect sexism in wider social and historical contexts. 2. A Women's Service Development Group in a medium secure unit in the United Kingdom has made improvements in services for female patients, including an independent advocacy and befriending service, a Well-Woman Clinic, and other gender-sensitive activities. 3. In general, services were evaluated positively by women. Some dissatisfaction primarily was related to activities, issues concerning seclusion, and the lack of a day area for women only. 4. Women had mixed views about their contact with male staff and patients. Because of this, policies and services in this and related areas should account for individual needs.
Byrt
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R
Arnold Lodge/De Montfort University, Arnold Lodge, Cordelia Close, Leicester LE5 0LE, United Kingdom. Richard.Byrt@ARNOLDL.cnhc-tr.trent.nhs.uk
Lomas
C
C
Gardiner
G
G
Lewis
D
D
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005555:Forensic Psychiatry / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D018907:Privacy; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017751:Safety Management; D012637:Security Measures; D006113:United Kingdom; D014789:Visitors to Patients; D014932:Women's Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards