Research into patients’ experience in mental health hospitals has focused on acute settings. The authors of this study have explored the experience of patients on rehabilitation wards. Data were collected through focus groups led by service users acting as experts by experience. This helped to encourage participation by this group, which can be difficult to engage. Themes from the data were identified from the perspectives of staff, carers and service users. Two primary themes were identified by all reviewers – inflexible, authoritarian regimes on the wards and patients’ fears about being unable to cope in the future after leaving the rehabilitation ward. The implications of the findings and suggestions for improving care in rehabilitation wards are discussed.