Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
5th Report - Mental health in prison
Justice Committee
HC 72
Published 29 September 2021
Government response
5th Special Report - Mental health in prison: Government Response to the Committee’s Fifth Report · published 4 Feb 2022
Recommendations & Conclusions
2
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Quantify mental health service shortfalls and ensure equivalent prison healthcare provision
Conclusion
The NHS should use its prison mental health treatment ‘needs analysis’ to quantify shortfalls in mental health services, make plans and allocate resources so mental healthcare in prisons is at least equivalent to services outside prisons, having taken account of …
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Government Response Summary
The government states the Mental Health Needs Analysis will be used to identify service gaps and inform the upcoming review of the national prison mental health service specification and mental health indicators to ensure appropriate care.
Ministry of Justice
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11
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 52
Identify reasons for delayed prisoner health screenings and implement remedial action plans
Conclusion
The NHS should identify why some establishments have difficulties screening prisoners within 24 hours of arrival and should put in place action plans with the healthcare providers at those establishments to remedy this.
Government Response Summary
The government highlights mental health as a priority, mentioning ongoing collaboration and efforts by governors to ensure timely healthcare access. HMPPS is looking at promoting positive wellbeing and will recommence a programme of future regime design, but does not commit to the NHS identifying specific reasons for 24-hour screening failures or implementing targeted action plans to remedy them.
Ministry of Justice
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17
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 61
Pandemic restrictions severely impacted prisoners' mental health, increasing future service demand.
Conclusion
Prisoners have shared the anxieties of the general population about possibly becoming ill themselves with covid-19 or their loved ones becoming ill. This has been combined with the most severe restrictions on their daily lives, going beyond those experienced by …
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Government Response Summary
The government stated NHS England and NHS Improvement are developing guidance for Integrated Care Systems to manage the continuity of care pathways for the prison population and will incorporate the interface between prison healthcare and parole into a review of the mental health service specification.
Ministry of Justice
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20
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 78
Severe shortage of mental health inpatient beds leads to inhumane treatment for prisoners.
Conclusion
It is inappropriate that severely mentally ill prisoners are kept in prison, sometimes in segregation. Despite the best efforts of prison staff this can result in periods of inhumane treatment. We welcome the proposal to introduce statutory time limits for …
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Government Response Summary
The government stated it is currently reviewing the use and impact of the power that allows severely mentally ill individuals to be kept in prison and considering alternative measures to avoid harm to vulnerable defendants, without committing to specific steps to address the shortage of facilities.
Ministry of Justice
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