Chapter 22: Physical environment The NHS Estates Department guidance (1993) for a 6-bed medium-secure Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit suggests offering how much free access space? 20m² per patient 20m² per patient including staff areas 30m² per patient 30m² per patient including staff areas 50m² per patient An Extra Care Area should … Have a toilet and shower facility Allow access to a garden Have an intercom system to the main office Have recreation activities Be separated from the rest of the ward Windows in Psychiatric Intensive Care Units should … Be made from polycarbonate Be specified as sledgehammer proof Have a restricted opening of no more than 225mm Allow as much day light as possible Have bars on the outside for extra security Which of the following should apply to standard operational procedures? They are only taught to management staff They promote staff confidence in dealing with difficult situations They maximise the therapeutic options They should include policies such as rapid tranquilisation They should be kept as simple as possible Which of the following apply to Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit / Low Secure Unit position and layout? Should preferably be on the second floor Should have its own entrance from the rest of the hospital Should have 6-12 beds Should have multiple corridors for space Should have Section 136 facilities The design of seclusion / de-escalation rooms should have which of the following? Single-glass observation panels A curtain for patient’s privacy A ceiling clearance that cannot be reached Walls and floors lined with a welded seam vinyl surface Ventilation / heating through air vents at ceiling level Which of the following are possible future innovations relevant to Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit and Low Secure Unit design? Use of iris-recognition access systems Use of radar identification systems Use of thermal imaging CCTV Fingerprint access onto the unit Use of Global Positioning System for locating patients when away from unit Which of the following are important characteristics of an effective Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit / Low Secure Unit design? Clear lines of sight wherever possible Entrance to unit close to clinical areas Ceiling height is 3m in places Multiple corridors The ceiling is fitted with sky lights to allow increased day light Which of the following are advantages of having a closed circuit television system in the unit? Less work for staff Less disruptive night-time observation Increased privacy Record of any miscreant activity Prevents violence on the ward Kennedy et al (1995) found that 74 of 80 incidents of aggression that took place away from the main residential unit occurred in the … Day lounge Patient’s bedroom Kitchen / servery Activity room Dining room Doors in Psychiatric Intensive Care Units should … Be no more than 30mm in thickness Offer good sound proofing All open outwards Be durable against abuse Be able to open both ways Loading …
