Patients' advocacy: the development of a service at the State Hospital, Carstairs, Scotland

Atkinson, J.M. and MacPherson, K. (2001) Patients' advocacy: the development of a service at the State Hospital, Carstairs, Scotland. Journal of Mental Health, 10(6), pp. 589-596. (doi: 10.1080/09638230127241)

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Publisher's URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09638230127241

Abstract

Advocacy is part of the process of empowering patients and involving them in the development of services. This paper describes the development of an advocacy service in the State Hospital at Carstairs and explores the issues involved in advocacy in a maximum secure environment. Using a model of citizen advocacy the service was started in September 1997. Patient involvement throughout the hospital was high with approximately 88% of patients having some contact with the service by January 2000. Most of the issues raised by patients are similar to those in any mental health advocacy project. Entrapment is a particular issue for some patients. Safety and security issues influence every aspect of the service. This ranges from advocates having to do more for patients rather than enable them to do things for themselves (e.g. make telephone calls) to the principle of the patients' wishes being paramount being tempered by security demands.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Atkinson, Professor Jacqueline
Authors: Atkinson, J.M., and MacPherson, K.
Subjects:R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine
R Medicine > R Medicine (General)
R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC0321 Neuroscience. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing > Clinical Specialities
Journal Name:Journal of Mental Health
Publisher:Informa Healthcare
ISSN:0963-8237
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2002 Informa Healthcare
First Published:First published in Journal of Mental Health 10(6):589-596
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher

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