About the State Hospital

In 1994 legislation went through Parliament to bring the State Hospital legally into the National Health Service in Scotland as a Special Health Board – the State Hospitals Board for Scotland – accountable to Scottish Ministers through the Scottish Government.

The State Hospital is one of four high secure hospitals in the UK. Located in South Lanarkshire in central Scotland, it is a national service for Scotland and Northern Ireland and one part of the pathway of care that should be available for those with secure care needs. The principal aim is to rehabilitate patients, ensuring safe transfer to appropriate lower levels of security.

Partnership working with South Lanarkshire Council is well established and provides social work services for patients and their families in addition to liaising with patients’ designated Mental Health Officers (MHOs) across the country.

The Forensic Mental Health Services Managed Care Network (Forensic Network) is hosted by the State Hospital.

Well developed relationships exist with the Mental Health Tribunal Service for Scotland and the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland, and good partnership working is in place across the Forensic Network to ensure these patients are transferred as required.

Patients

Patients are admitted to the Hospital under The Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 / 2015 and other related legislation because of their dangerous, violent or criminal propensities.

Patients without convictions will have displayed seriously aggressive behaviours, usually including violence.

Every year there are around 25-35 patient admissions and discharges.  The exact figures are provided in the State Hospital’s annual report.

Around 73% of patients are ‘restricted’ patients within the jurisdiction of Scottish Ministers.  That is a patient who because of the nature of his offence and antecedents, and the risk that as a result of his mental disorder he would commit an offence if set at large, is made subject to special restrictions without limit of time in order to protect the public from serious harm.  This number also includes patients undergoing criminal court proceedings who are also subject to the supervision of the Scottish Ministers.

All patients are male, with an average age of 41. The most common primary diagnosis is schizophrenia. The average length of stay is just over five years, with individual lengths of stay ranging from less than one month to over 34 years.

Staff

The State Hospital employs around 680 staff within its 60-acre campus. 

Facilities

“The State Hospital provides the skills, culture, rehabilitation ethos and fit-for-purpose physical facilities necessary for high quality care of forensic patients.”

Wards are in four units (hubs and clusters) with each unit comprising three 12-bedded areas (i.e. 36 beds per hub).  Clinical team offices, admin support and staff facilities are provided within an office accommodation block in each unit to facilitate multi-disciplinary engagement. An activity hub in each unit allows wards to share a range of facilities including day spaces, group treatment / therapy facilities and multi-function spaces. All wards have domestic kitchens and laundry areas that support patients in maintaining and developing activities of daily living skills.  Privacy and dignity is promoted with en suite facilities for all patients and the facility to have a key to their bedroom.  Patients are able to access outdoor spaces including ward gardens and hub gardens.

All patient therapy and activity is under the one roof within the Skye Centre. The Family Centre for visiting reflects the needs of patients, carers and children.

All facilities have a functional design to maximise observation, and optimise safety and security, whilst maintaining a therapeutic balance.

Information Sheets

Hospital Modernisation