Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
Recommendation 14
14
Deferred
Paragraph: 61
Prison staff play vital role in identifying and signposting prisoners to mental healthcare
Conclusion
Prison officers and other operational staff play a vital role in identifying and supporting prisoners who need mental healthcare and signposting prisoners to this treatment. Having the time to talk to and listen to prisoners is a key part of this, particularly those with difficulties absorbing written information due to poor literacy, language barriers, or neuro-difficulties. We agree with the Prisons Minister that experience should complement, not substitute training.
Government Response Summary
The government describes ongoing work by NHS England and MHCS to monitor and improve the timeliness of transfers of prisoners with mental health issues to hospitals, including data analysis and targeted interventions, but does not address training or time for prison officers.
Paragraph Reference:
61
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
In June 2021 NHS England and NHS Improvement published Transfer and Remission Guidance setting out a 28-day timeframe for transfers from prison to hospital and in April 2021 developed a data input portal. This enables providers of mental health services in prisons to submit transfer and remission data which is analysed against the relevant timeframes. This analysis enables NHS England and NHS Improvement to identify, understand and address any delays in transfers and remissions, and any areas where improvement is needed. Monitoring of the monthly data is ongoing and if timeframes are breached, targeted work will be carried out with local and regional teams and NHS funded providers. This data is not published as it is not possible to do so without potentially identifying individual patients/prisoners due to the small numbers in each establishment. Access to relevant data is available to commissioners and providers. The Mental Health Casework Section (MHCS) in HMPPS has a small but significant part to play in the transfer and remission process of restricted patients. MHCS works 12 NHS England » Guidance for the transfer and remission of adult prisoners and immigration removal centre detainees under the Mental Health Act 1983 13 Reforming the Mental Health Act - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) to published timeliness targets for all its key decisions including prison transfers, as set out in their performance framework14 and similarly reports to stakeholders quarterly on performance against these timeliness targets.