Waiting for a bed at a regional secure unit

Abstract

A retrospective study of admissions to a regional secure unit over two years revealed that time spent waiting for a bed to be available was strongly correlated with the place where the patient was waiting. This is discussed against the background of regional secure unit waiting lists, and with particular reference to Special Hospital patients requiring rehabilitation.

Key Words:

• regional secure units
• RSUs
• waiting lists
• forensic psychiatry services
• deprivation disutility