Supervision registers and medium secure units

Abstract

The introduction of supervision registers for mentally ill people according to the NHS Executive Guidelines in February 1994 aroused debate among psychiatrists. This paper highlights many of the issues and describes the development of the supervision register at one medium secure unit.

Clinical management in forensic psychiatry

“…As yet there is no evidence that placing people on a register will reduce that risk (McCarthy et al, 1995). Isherwood (1996) examined the implementation of supervision registers in medium secure units and commented that CPA, but not the register, had led to a significant increase in workload. There was no evidence of benefit, one case of prejudice, and patients living in the community resented its sudden imposition.…”