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Patients' advocacy: the development of a service at the State Hospital Carstairs Scotland
- Authors:
- ATKINSON Jacqueline M., MacPHERSON Kirstine
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health, 10(6), December 2001, pp.589-596.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
This article describes the development of an advocacy service 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.