Differences in psych hospitals between U.S., UK, etc.???

[zowie]

I was in Melbury Lodge, Winchester twice and both times they searched my bags and removed anything with wires (even headphones) and anything sharp. I had a little purse with blades in which they took away the first time and threw the blades away and then didn't find it the second time.
Then I was in Meadowfield, Worthing about 8/9 times and the treatment varied. Sometimes they searched my bag, sometimes they didn't. They never took away things with wires. One of the first few times I was in, my dad phoned the head nurse because he was angry that I'd been able to SH. She said if they can't stop us in the real world, what's the point trying to stop us in hospital? But then after that I was on a different ward and they were very strict about sharps.
Oh, and in both we were allowed phones. I only had a laptop in Winchester and they had no problem with it being connected to the internet. They had a computer in an office in Worthing with access to the internet which you were allowed to use once a week but sites like RYL wouldn't work.

[Daydream]

I've been in a few places, and in one of them I wasn't allowed my jewellery making stuff (beads, weak elastic) or even scoobies (which I suppose could be seen as a risk). They wouldn't let me have glue until I convinced them it was solvent free (IT SAID ON THE LABEL!!). They took off me my spray antiperspirant and wanted to take away my laces. They let me have my laptop and games and dvds and stuff which was good though. I can't remember what else they did, but it wasn't a secure unit I was on when they did this.