Broadmoor Hospital cares for patients from diverse backgrounds, including ethnicities, religions and sexualities. To provide personalised and inclusive forms of treatment, research needs to understand why and how people from different social identities could be better supported within High Secure hospitals especially as research has indicated that individuals from certain ethnic minorities could be over-represented.
We aim to take a leading role in developing research that not only asks where disparities exist but also why and how do we make improvements for individuals within high secure services. We also aim to develop research tackling issues relating to disparities and improve the service facilities through information.
Currently, our research explores how individuals from different backgrounds experience receiving and providing care. In future we will expand these topics to include:
- Do we treat and respond to people with different backgrounds and identities differently?
- Do individuals of different backgrounds have needs we aren’t addressing?
- What is the relationship between patients’ backgrounds and mental health or forensic services?
- Providing care to patients from diverse backgrounds.
In addition to driving change, we aim to foster the next generation of researchers interested in equality and inclusivity within forensic settings. One programme we run is to provide dissertation opportunities for Masters Students within the London School of Hygiene to complete work alongside Broadmoor Hospital.
Internal researchers
- Rita Hira – Lead
- Jonathan Hafferty
- Nicola Miller
- Ken Wakatama.
External researcher partners
- London School of Hygiene, Kings College London
- Royal Holloway, University of London.
Research we are currently working on
Conducted by: Rita Hira, Joanna Pavia, Aniqua Sheikh, Ian Singh, Jonathan Hafferty.
Providing equally beneficial and inclusive care to diverse patients is central to Broadmoor Hospital’s (and the wider West London NHS Trust) values. However, High Secure Hospitals like Broadmoor are overrepresented by certain minority groups. As a result, Broadmoor Hospital must adapt care to suit patients with diverse social characteristics (Including race, sexuality, class, etc.). For example, adapting treatment to patients’ needs, providing appropriate food or celebrating key events. Yet, previous evidence has suggested that patients with certain social identities experience more unmet needs in care than others (for example, black communities) in High Secure Hospitals.
We are conducting semi-structured interviews with Broadmoor hospital patients and staff to understand the extent to which Broadmoor Hospital provides equal and inclusive care to patients. We will explore what role patients’ social identity plays in their care needs and if the hospital offers equal and inclusive care - including what works well and improvements Broadmoor Hospital could implement.
Conducted by: Rita Hira, Ian Singh, Jonathan Hafferty.
Research has indicated that people from certain ethnic groups, especially black, are overrepresented within secure hospitals. This study will utilise existing clinical data to explore if patients’ outcomes (For example, restrictive practice or clinical engagement differ) differ based on their ethnicity.
In collaboration with Maryam Haghiran and Gail Wingham.
This study seeks to explore how patients of different minority groups experience High Secure care when considering trauma and previous prejudices.
Research with Broadmoor provided me with a unique learning experience that I feel isn't comparable to most organisations.
I was given the autonomy to make decisions regarding the project I worked on, but was also given reliable support from experienced staff members who I’ve learned a lot from and guided me along the way.
I felt I could always ask questions, but was also given the privilege to work independently which has been incredibly rewarding and taught me a lot. It was an experience I will never forget, one that I thoroughly enjoyed and would do again in a heartbeat.