A survey of the Regional Secure Unit programme.

Progress in building and opening permanent and interim secure units between October 1982 and March 1984 was surveyed. Reasons for the delays in implementing the secure unit policy recommended in the 1975 Butler Report are described, and comparisons made between the different Regional Secure Unit (RSU) designs, staffing policies, and Regional Forensic Service models. The development of this Health Service innovation has now reached the stage when the limiting factor to further progress is not building but finding suitable staff and paying their salaries. The secure unit programme will highlight another group of underprivileged patients who will require further Health Service innovation.