Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-nmvwc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-29T07:02:18.814Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A comparison of NHS and private psychiatric intensive care units: Unit and patient characteristics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 June 2009

Khadija Chaudhry  and
Stephen M Pereira
Khadija Chaudhry
Affiliation:
Research Psychologist, Pathways on Tagore Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit, North East London Mental Health Trust
Stephen M Pereira*
Affiliation:
Honorary Senior Lecturer in Psychiatry
*
Correspondence to: Dr Stephen M Pereira, Pathways on Tagore Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit, North East London Mental Health Trust, Barley Lane, Goodmayes, Essex IG3 8XJ. Tel: 0208 970 5833; Fax: 0208 970 5838; E-mail: Stephen.Pereira@nelmht.nhs.uk
Get access

Abstract

Background: Both the National Health Service (NHS) and the private sector provide psychiatric intensive care. To date little is known about the differences between the two sectors regarding the unit functioning and characteristics of patients who are accommodated in psychiatric intensive care units (PICUs).

Aim: To compare the unit and patient characteristics of NHS and private PICUs.

Method: A cross sectional census day postal design was employed.

Results: A total of 170 PICUs (154 NHS, 16 private) were identified. NHS PICUs accommodated 1038 patients and the private PICUs housed 200 patients. Analysis of the data showed that some differences existed between the two sectors related to unit characteristics. Private units reported having higher number of beds, more nursing staff, more unit facilities and more out of area referrals than the NHS Units. Regarding the patient characteristics, private PICUs had significantly more patients with personality disorders and forensic history than the NHS PICUs. NHS patients had a shorter length of stay compared to those in the private sector. The demographic profiles of NHS and private PICU patients were similar. The majority of the patients were white, male, unemployed and single.

Conclusion: The NHS and the private sector PICUs share many characteristics in terms of unit functioning and patient characteristics, however, some significant differences between the two sectors have also emerged.

Keywords

Psychiatric intensive care unitsNational Health Serviceprivate sector
Type
Original Paper
Information
Journal of Psychiatric Intensive Care , Volume 5 , Issue 1 , June 2009 , pp. 5 - 13
Copyright
Copyright © NAPICU 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Coid, J.W. (1991a) A survey of patients from five health districts receiving special care in the private sector. Psychiatric Bulletin. 15: 257–262.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Coid, J.W. (1991b) Difficult to place patients: The game of pass the parcel must stop. British Medical Journal. 302: 603–604.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Department of Health (1999) National Service Framework for Mental Health: Modern Standards and Service Models. London: HMSO.Google Scholar
Department of Health (2002) National Minimum Standards for General Adult Services in Psychiatric Intensive Care Units (PICU) and Low Secure Environments. Pereira, S, Clinton, C (eds). Mental Health Policy Implementation Guide, Department of Health.Google Scholar
Laidlaw, J. and Buckle, D. (2005) Informal patients in secure wards: Restriction of movement or deprivation of liberty. Journal of Psychiatric Intensive Care. 1(2): 61–63.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pereira, S., Beer, D., and Paton, C. (2001) Good practice issues in Psychiatric Intensive Care Units. In: Beer, D., Pereira, P., Paton, C., (eds). Psychiatric Intensive Care. London: Greenwich Medical Media. pp. 371–375.Google Scholar
Pereira, S., Chaudhry, K., Pietromartire, S., Dale, C., and Halliwell, J. (2005) Design in Psychiatric Intensive Care Units: Problems and issues. Journal of Psychiatric Intensive Care. 1 (2): 70–76.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pereira, S., Dawson, P. and Sarsam, M. (2006a) The National survey of PICU and low secure services: 2. Unit characteristics. Journal of Psychiatric Intensive Care. 2(1): 13–19.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pereira, S., Dawson, P. and Sarsam, M. (2006b) The National survey of PICU and low secure services: 1. Patient characteristics. Journal of Psychiatric Intensive Care. 2(1): 7–12.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Poole, R., Ryan, T. and Pearsall, A. (2002) The NHS, the private sector, and the virtual asylum: Proper systems are needed to develop, manage, and monitor cooperation between public and private sectors. British Medical Journal. 325: 349–350.CrossRefGoogle Scholar