The aim of this report was to devise a method by which psychiatric hospitals could discover the views of their patients. Three methods were tried out in wards similar to each other in each of three hospitals. A simple, written questionnaire, answered anonymously, was found to be satisfactory except for geriatric wards. The questionnaire was then tried out by another six large psychiatric hospitals and the results form 2148 patients were analysed. It is hoped that many psychiatric hospitals will find the method here described a useful way of monitoring patients' views. The questionnaire and instructions for conducting the survey are included, together with a checklist for staff.