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Outrage As Hospital Admits: We Allow Patients to Self Harm

Posted on: Sunday, 26 March 2006, 18:00 CST

By GLEN OWEN

A HOSPITAL has caused outrage by admitting that it allows self- harming patients to cut themselves with knives, watched by nurses.

The patients can even get advice on what sort of blades they should use, in a scheme introduced to help them find 'better ways of dealing with their problems'.

Nurses supervise the cutting then patch up the wounds.

Critics last night condemned the move by St George's Psychiatric Hospital in Stafford as dangerous, and warned it could encourage sufferers to injure themselves.

Chris Holley, consultant nurse in charge of the scheme, said the aim was to ensure that the harm was carried out in a safe way and was accompanied by counselling. She admitted that some of the nurses involved in the project were uncomfortable with the idea.

Tory health spokesman Tim Loughton condemned the project, which is backed by the Department of Health. He said: 'This is sending a worrying message that self-harm is somehow acceptable. We should be ensuring instead that there are the right facilities and advice available to address the problem.' Last year the NHS dealt with more than 100,000 cases of selfharm, ranging from simple cuts to elaborate ritualistic injuries, poisoning and burnt skin.

Mind, the mental health charity, describes the condition as 'a means of communicating an inner scream that cannot be put into words'.

Sophie Corlett, policy director of Mind, said: 'Hospitals have a poor record of helping self-harmers, so a move towards more compassionate support is to be welcomed.'

Source: Mail on Sunday; London (UK)

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