Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
Recommendation 13
13
Deferred
Paragraph: 54
Accelerate work to understand and resolve racial disparity in identifying prisoner mental health
Conclusion
The NHS should accelerate its work to understand why there is a racial disparity in identifying mental health issues in prison and implement a solution.
Government Response Summary
The government's response addresses delays in transferring prisoners with severe mental health needs to hospitals, stating revised NHS England and NHS Improvement Guidance was published in June 2021. It commits to a new statutory 28-day time limit for transfers once the guidance is embedded, with progress to be monitored monthly. It does not address the recommendation regarding racial disparity in identifying mental health issues in prison.
Paragraph Reference:
54
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
The MoJ, HMPPS, DHSC, NHS England and NHS Improvement have a responsibility to ensure those in prison receive appropriate care in the right setting, at the right time. If a prisoner has a severe mental health need to an extent that suggests that detention under the Mental Health Act may be appropriate, they should be referred and assessed clinically to determine whether transfer to a mental health hospital is warranted. We recognise that in some cases this process takes too long and stakeholders are working together to implement revised NHS England and NHS Improvement Guidance for transfers and remissions, published in June 2021.12 We are determined to improve the referral, assessment and transfer process, and ensure unnecessary delays are reduced to ensure the best outcome for each individual. We know that this is dependent on strong collaborative efforts between MoJ, HMPPS, DHSC, NHS England and NHS Improvement. In the White Paper on Reforming the Mental Health Act,13 the Government has committed to introducing a new statutory time limit of 28 days for transfers to mental health hospitals, to be commenced once the revised NHS England and NHS Improvement guidance has been fully embedded in practice. This will be kept under review based on monthly monitoring data, and we will take stock of progress during 2022/23. The NHS Long Term Plan describes policy for mental health services which includes investment into community mental health services and alternatives to admission, to try and reduce the need for mental health inpatient care. The aim is to improve throughput across the whole pathway and consequently ensure appropriate access to mental health inpatient services when required. Additional investment in mental health services, £1bn per year by 2023/24, supports the ambition within the Long Term Plan.