Night-time confinement, locking patients in their bedrooms overnight, is practiced within high-secure hospitals in the UK. This article provides context, sets out the history and reviews the ethical and pragmatic issues at stake. Thought is given to the future, where we appear to be moving toward a different approach.

E.S. is a consultant forensic psychiatrist at Ashworth Hospital. All his patients are confined at night. He represents the Royal College of Psychiatrists Forensic Faculty at the National Oversight Group, which is the strategic advisory body providing assurance to NHS England regarding the commissioning and provision of high-secure services.

Night-time confinement is the practice of routinely locking patients in their rooms at night unless there is a contrary clinical indication. It is used in high-secure psychiatric hospitals. This article argues in favour of this practice on the basis of realistic medicine, an individual human rights based approach, the principles of mental health legislation in Scotland and England and cost effectiveness. This is not an academic debate. There is a real danger that those advocating against night-time confinement, if successful, will at best make little difference to the lives of our patients as they sleep, and at worst may hugely impoverish their lives because of reduced daytime activities.

L.T. is Medical Director at The State Hospital. Night-time confinement is used within this setting.

None.