Attitudes towards a high security hospital.
OBJECTIVE
To study attitudes towards Rampton Hospital by reviewing the attitudes of external students and professionals in training following an arranged guided tour of the hospital; and examining media coverage of the hospital over one year.


METHODS
All visitors had a guided day tour of Rampton. Everyone was given a questionnaire to complete at the end of the tour, and responses were reviewed. Rampton public relations department collects all print media coverage and monitors broadcasts in the UK. The department then assimilates this information into an annual report, which was examined for the relevant year.


RESULTS
Questionnaires were given to 995 visitors and completed by 416 (42 per cent). Of those that returned the questionnaires, 95 per cent (n = 395) rated their satisfaction with the tour as either 'satisfied' or 'very satisfied'. A positive change in attitude was indicated by approximately one quarter of respondents (n = 105) following their tour. There were no negative changes in attitude expressed. Of the 203 press cuttings relating specifically to the hospital, 59 (29 per cent) were classed as positively enhancing and building the reputation of the hospital, 86 (42 per cent) were classed as negative and 58 (29 per cent) were classed as neutral.


CONCLUSIONS
The tour of Rampton was valuable in bringing about a positive attitude change in the visitors. Although some media coverage assessed was negative, it had been expected to be more so. The authors wonder whether people's negative impressions are formed from the wider media, such as television dramas and movies.
Edenfield Centre, Prestwich Hospital, Manchester. gness@edenfield.bstmhp.nhs.uk
Graham
G
Ness
Mick
M
Collins
D001294:Attitude to Health; D006782:Hospitals, Special / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D011641:Public Relations; D012637:Security Measures; D013222:State Medicine; D006113:United Kingdom