Mixed sex psychiatric wards

Created: 2009-06-05 11:57:44

Comment from Marjorie Wallace, chief executive of the mental health charity SANE, on mixed sex psychiatric wards:

"The purpose for admitting anyone to a psychiatric ward is to provide them with sanctuary: a place where they can feel safe, where the everyday pressures of relationships can be minimised and peace of mind can be restored.

"This is far from the case on many of our wards today, which can be noisy, squalid and rife with fear and aggression. At SANE we are told be women that they can feel so intimidated on mixed-sex wards that they dare not stay. Yet they are equally afraid of being left alone to cope outside hospital. This means that more people are at risk and reject essential care and treatment."

-Ends-