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Bayley Ward provides short periods of rapid assessment, intensive treatment and stabilisation for patients, before or during, a longer period of inpatient care. Admission will be based on an individual needs assessment and in some cases patients may be admitted directly to a PICU. 

Patients admitted to a PICU will have behavioural challenges which seriously compromise the physical or psychological wellbeing of themselves or others, and cannot be safely assessed or treated in an open acute inpatient facility (usually a general adult inpatient mental health ward).

Patients will only be admitted to a PICU if they display a significant risk of aggression, absconding with associated risk, suicide or vulnerability (e.g. due to sexual disinhibition or over-activity) in the context of a serious mental illness.

It is envisaged that all PICU patients would be detained under the Mental Health Act (MHA) 1983, as admission and detention in a locked PICU environment constitutes a fundamental loss of freedom for an individual. If a patient has been discharged from their MHA detention at short notice, there may be a short period of time during which they remain on the PICU informally until an onward care plan and pathway is arranged.

Bayley PICU is a member of NAPICU and adheres to the NAPICU minimum standards and their admission criteria

Admission inclusion criteria for PICU

• Patients admitted to the PICU should exhibit mental state or clinical behaviour which seriously compromises their physical or psychological well-being, or that of others, and which cannot be safely assessed or treated in a general adult ward
• Externally directed aggression. A patient is assessed as posing a significant risk of harm to others or extreme aggression towards property
• Internally directed aggression. A patient is assessed as posing a significant risk of suicide and the patient is unresponsive to preventative measures available
• Absconding patients who are detained under the MHA 1983, for whom the consequences of persistent absconding are serious enough to warrant treatment in the PICU
• Unpredictably patients, potentially posing a significant risk to self or others and requiring further assessment
• Patients should be detained under the MHA 1983 (all section papers are checked before accepting admission) and patients are not admitted under section 136.

Admission exclusion criteria for PICU

• Patient is assessed as presenting too high an internal or perimeter security risk for the PICU, requiring a Medium or High secure PICU
• The patient has a primary diagnosis of Substance misuse and the primary purpose of admission is solely to prevent access to substances
• The patient has a primary diagnosis of Dementia or Learning Disability
• Patients physical condition is too frail to allow their safe management on a PICU
• Patient has a chronic condition which would not benefit from admission to PICU
• The patient is restricted ( subject to MHA 1983 , via the courts ,Ministry of Justice) and has no clear pathway or provision for transfer from the PICU once clinically warranted
• Patient must be 18 years and over and not above 65 years.