‘I get really upset when I visit’: the harsh reality of life in a high-security hospital in England
This feature explores the challenging conditions within England's high-security psychiatric hospitals, focusing on the experiences of families visiting patients. It highlights the strict security measures and the emotional toll on relatives of those held in facilities like Rampton.
Why it matters
The article sheds light on the intersection of mental health, the criminal justice system, and the human rights of patients and their families.
Broadmoor hospital in Berkshire, one of three such facilities in England. Broadmoor hospital in Berkshire, one of three such facilities in England. Hospitals ‘I get really upset when I visit’: the harsh reality of life in a high-security hospital in England When the Southport killer Axel Rudakubana was transferred from a category A prison to Broadmoor hospital, many observers complained that he was getting off lightly. But these places are anything but ‘cushy’, says the mother of one patient
Diane Taylor Sun 11 Oct 2026 05.00 BST Last modified on Sun 11 Oct 2026 05.02 BST Share Prefer the Guardian on Google R ampton high-security hospital in Nottinghamshire was built in 1912. Everything about the bleak, remote facility for mentally ill people is forbidding, says Jan Neate. “I get really upset going there,” she says. “Even though I really want to see Jake, visiting is an ordeal.”
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