Mentally unwell prisoner support

HMP Berwyn operates as a Category B/C resettlement and training prison, with a population settling at its operational capacity of 2000. The Board observes a generally safe environment with improving regime delivery, although significant staffing churn, particularly among band 3 officers, remains a challenge impacting various aspects of prison operations. Key concerns include persistent long waiting times for mental health transfers, a halted cell refurbishment program, and issues with missed medical appointments and key worker awareness. Despite these, the prison demonstrates positive outcomes in resettlement, with above-target employment and housing rates for prison leavers.

HMP Styal experienced both positive developments and ongoing challenges in the reporting year. While safety measures improved and staff maintained a humane regime, significant concerns persisted regarding accommodation maintenance, perimeter security, and the management of complex mental health needs. Drug use increased, and issues with purposeful activity attendance remained, highlighting areas requiring continued focus and resources for improvement.

HMP Rye Hill, a Category B training prison for men convicted of sexual offences, operated at or near its maximum capacity of 664 during the reporting year. The IMB found the prison to be a generally safe and fair environment, with improvements in healthcare provision and staff stability. However, significant concerns persist regarding the inadequate provision for elderly and disabled prisoners, the protracted process for compassionate release, and the lack of specialist support and resettlement opportunities for IPP and other complex needs prisoners.

This annual report for HMP/YOI Peterborough (Women) highlights overall fair and humane treatment of prisoners, with a good regime offering ample time out of cell. Positive developments include improved safety resources, healthcare governance, and the successful rollout of the OMiC programme. Key concerns, however, persist regarding the lack of suitable accommodation on release, challenges in managing women with complex needs, and a significant rise in self-harm incidents.

HMP Whatton, a Category C prison for sexual offenders, is generally safe and treats prisoners fairly, but faced significant challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic with 23-hour cellular confinement. Major concerns include the substandard B wing and healthcare facilities, delayed mental health transfers, and issues with prisoner property and resettlement planning. The Board praised staff's handling of the pandemic and the quality of education and mental health teams.

HMP Wandsworth, a Category B local prison, reported significant challenges during a year heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, including a rapid lockdown response. The Board found the prison's overcrowded, 169-year-old Victorian buildings created inhumane living conditions for prisoners. Key concerns included high levels of violence and self-harm, poor resettlement outcomes, and persistent delays in mental health transfers, with the Addison unit deemed unfit for purpose.

HMP Whitemoor faced a challenging year marked by grave acts of violence and the COVID-19 lockdown, demonstrating skill in crisis management but struggling with increased self-harm and assaults. Key concerns include an over-reliance on segregation, high rates of education class cancellations due to staff shortages, and persistent issues with prisoner property transfers. The Board noted positive developments in family contact technology and efforts to foster a community spirit, while highlighting the need to fully establish the key worker scheme and improve facilities for vulnerable prisoners and visitors.

HMP/YOI Woodhill underwent a significant re-roling during the reporting year to become a Category B training prison for long-sentenced prisoners. While the Board noted positive developments such as no deaths in custody and improved healthcare complaint response times, significant challenges persisted. Key concerns included high levels of violence, self-harm, and drug use, staff shortages, and an inadequate mental health service with transfer delays. The COVID-19 pandemic severely restricted the regime in the latter part of the year, further impacting time out of cell and purposeful activity.

Overall the Board considers that prisoners are relatively safe at Wymott, despite increased self-harm and violence. Significant concerns remain regarding the unacceptable standard of accommodation on some wings, persistent healthcare staffing shortages, and long waits for mental health transfers. The closure of the therapeutic community and issues with prisoner property on transfer are also key areas of worry for the Board.

HMYOI Wetherby, a YOI for up to 360 young people, held 197 at the end of May 2020, with 33% on remand. While the Board welcomed the new Enhanced Support Unit and improvements to the estate and staff morale, significant concerns persist. These include acute shortages of secure mental health beds leading to indefinite waits for transfers, persistent staffing vacancies in healthcare, and the unacceptable lack of daily exercise and time out of cell for young people. Violence and self-harm remain problematic, alongside issues with restraint techniques and BWC usage.

HMP Thameside, a Category B/C local prison, faced challenges including high population density and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic during the reporting year ending June 2020. The Board highlighted excellent staff cooperation in controlling the virus and positive aspects like strong faith support and a good library. However, significant concerns remain regarding the inhumane regime of 23-hour cell confinement, the lengthy waits for mental health transfers, recurring issues with facilities and property management, high levels of self-harm and everyday violence, and issues with staff complaints and engagement with educational activities.

HMP Stocken, a Category C training prison, has expanded its population to 1038 with an operational capacity of 1044. The IMB judges the prison to be relatively safe and humane, with excellent education and training. However, key concerns include a critical shortage of secure mental health facilities and Category D places, issues with prisoner transfers, and repeated problems with adjudication paperwork. The Board commends improvements in maintenance, a significant reduction in drug availability, and the successful implementation of the keyworker scheme, while highlighting the need for better funding and management oversight in several areas.

HMP Wayland experienced a challenging year, marked by reduced violence but ongoing concerns regarding drug entry and a lack of national strategy for vulnerable self-isolating prisoners. Staffing levels were significantly impacted by the pandemic, hindering regime delivery and essential training. The prison's aging infrastructure and the delay in critical projects like a new segregation unit further compound difficulties in providing a rehabilitative and humane environment, though efforts by the Governor to improve conditions were noted.

HMP Wakefield largely maintains a just, consistent, and inclusive regime, deemed safe and orderly despite a challenging population. While physical health needs are generally met, the Board has significant concerns regarding inadequate mental health support, prolonged Rule 45 segregation, and delays in mental health transfers. The prison's focus remains on progression within the high-security estate rather than direct community resettlement.

HMP Bure, a Category C prison for men convicted of sexual offences, operated under severe Covid-19 restrictions during the reporting period, leading to extensive lockdowns and reduced regime. Despite these challenges, the Board found generally good staff-prisoner relationships, an outstanding safer custody team, and fully staffed healthcare. Key concerns include the lack of rehabilitative interventions for IPP prisoners, the absence of in-cell telephony, persistent estate issues such as heating and ventilation, significant staffing shortages in offender management, and limitations on family contact.

HMP Belmarsh, a Category A local prison, faces significant challenges in providing purposeful activity and rehabilitation opportunities, particularly for HSU and sentenced prisoners, amid rising illicit item seizures and high violence levels. While healthcare provision has improved under a new provider, mental health support, transfers, and bed shortages remain problematic. The Board is concerned about overcrowding, prolonged segregation stays, and the indefinite detention of IPP prisoners, emphasizing the need for increased resources and improved regimes for vulnerable groups.

HMP Altcourse experienced a contract transfer to Sodexo in June 2023, leading to initial staffing challenges that have largely been addressed. The Board commends staff for maintaining safety amidst population pressures and notes improvements in mental healthcare and a successful reading strategy. Key concerns include the kitchen's inadequacy, lack of education in CSU, delays in mental health transfers, and the impact of early release schemes on resettlement and accommodation provision.

HMP Whatton, a Category C prison for sexual offenders, maintained an average population of 836. The IMB praised the safe environment, positive staff-prisoner relationships, and improvements in education and family contact. Key concerns include the persistent challenges faced by IPP prisoners, critical under-resourcing impacting the estate and services, and delays in transfers to Category D prisons. Outdated healthcare facilities and accessibility issues for prisoners with mobility problems also remain significant areas for development.

HMP Ranby, a Category C training prison, is considered reasonably safe with generally fair treatment, though issues in communication and specific processes exist. The healthcare service is satisfactory, but challenges remain with mental health transfers and long-term care, often involving segregation. While efforts are made for resettlement, 36% of prisoners are released without accommodation. Key concerns include overcrowding, mental health provision in segregation, property transfers, and ensuring access to purposeful activity for all prisoners.

HMP/YOI Stoke Heath is largely considered safe, with strong violence reduction strategies and improved healthcare services. However, the report highlights significant concerns regarding the use of segregation for mental health cases and long waiting times for transfers. Persistent issues include inadequate telephone access, poor accountability for lost property, and a severe lack of purposeful activity and employment opportunities due to insufficient funding.

This report details the IMB's monitoring of Yarl's Wood IRC for 2020, a year marked by significant operational changes due to the Covid-19 pandemic and a shift from a predominantly women's IRC to a male Short-Term Holding Facility (STHF). The Board commends management and staff for maintaining a safe environment and effective healthcare, including an increase in mental health provisions, despite challenges. Key concerns include the identification and support of vulnerable individuals and minors within the STHF population, issues with information quality from external reception teams, and limitations in the Board's ability to monitor complaint outcomes.

HMP/YOI Downview operated under severe Covid-19 restrictions, leading to a significantly reduced regime with prisoners largely confined to cells for 22.5 hours a day. Despite these challenges, the Board found Downview to be a safe prison, with staff highly commended for their efforts in maintaining safety and humane treatment. Concerns persist regarding mental health provision, the impact of prolonged lockdown on prisoners' well-being, and the limited availability of purposeful activity and external support services.

HMP Hewell, a Category B local prison, showed significant improvements in safety, security, and cleanliness during a year dominated by Covid-19 restrictions. Despite these positive shifts and a reduction in self-harm and assaults, systemic concerns persist regarding the treatment of IPP prisoners, transfers for those with severe mental health needs, and inadequate facilities for disabled individuals. The Board highlighted overcrowding and prisoner discontent with healthcare as ongoing challenges.

HMP & YOI Feltham faced continued challenges during the reporting year, particularly regarding its dilapidated estate which limited purposeful activity. While Covid-19 restrictions led to a safer environment with reduced violence and self-harm, access to mental health support and effective resettlement planning remained areas of concern. Staff dedication was highly commended amidst these difficulties, but the Board noted significant issues with property handling and the collapse of the Listener scheme.

Deerbolt continued to operate under significant COVID-19 restrictions, leading to a severely curtailed regime and concerns about purposeful activity and prisoner wellbeing. While staff are commended for maintaining a safe environment and low COVID-19 rates, alongside strong healthcare provision, the Board noted significant issues. Key concerns include persistent staff shortages, low numbers of key worker sessions, increasing gang culture, and long delays for prisoner transfers, particularly for those with complex mental health needs.

This has been another challenging year due to Covid-19, impacting regime and IMB monitoring. While staff professionalism is commended, the Board remains concerned about high self-harm and violence levels, inadequate mental health provision, and the impact of lockdowns on prisoners' wellbeing. Despite some improvements in healthcare applications and infrastructure investment, significant issues persist with staffing, accommodation options post-release, and the segregation of a severely brain-injured prisoner.

HMP Garth faced significant challenges during a reporting year dominated by Covid-19 restrictions, which impacted regimes, staffing, and purposeful activity. Despite this, the Board commended staff for maintaining safety, providing good healthcare, and improving education access. Key concerns remain around poor maintenance by contractor Amey, staff recruitment and retention, inadequate food budgets, and critical issues affecting resettlement and the welfare of IPP and elderly prisoners.

The 2021 report covers the first year of the combined Gatwick IRC (Brook House and Tinsley House) under merged IMB oversight and Serco management, with the year dominated by Covid-19 restrictions, unprecedented Channel crossing arrivals through Tinsley House, and ongoing Home Office case management failures leading to prolonged and often unnecessary detention. While Serco staff generally treated detained men with respect and compassion, systemic failings in mental health support, access to legal advice, property management, and Home Office communication remained serious and in many cases repeated concerns.

HMP Ranby, a Category C training prison, faces persistent challenges including high levels of violence and illicit substance use. The Board noted overcrowding, significant staffing shortages, and a high proportion of inexperienced officers, impacting regime delivery and prisoner services like healthcare applications and escorts. Concerns were also raised about lost property during transfers and the difficulty in moving prisoners with complex mental health needs to external facilities.

HMP Leyhill, a Category D open prison, is undergoing significant expansion to increase its operational capacity. While the IMB commends its focus on prisoner safety, humane treatment, and efforts in education and resettlement, it raises concerns regarding delayed parole for IPP prisoners, the lack of approved premises, and persistent issues with unreliable telephony. The Board emphasizes the need to maintain current standards during the expansion and address staffing and property transfer challenges.

HMP Rye Hill, a privately run Category C training prison for men convicted of sexual offences, successfully managed a significant expansion and recategorisation during the reporting year. The prison saw a considerable reduction in violence, self-harm, and use of force, alongside an 'outstanding' CQC rating for its healthcare provision. Key concerns persist regarding the ongoing injustice of IPP sentences, the complexities of the compassionate release process, and issues with prisoner property and hospital escort availability.

HMP/YOI Downview, a women's closed prison and YOI, reported an average population of 319 against an operational capacity of 356. Key concerns include significant delays in mental health transfers for acutely unwell prisoners, persistently low rates of Release on Temporary Licence, and extremely high levels of property loss during inter-prison transfers. While staffing levels were generally healthy, the Board noted inconsistencies in staff effectiveness and operational oversight, alongside ongoing impacts of population pressure on safety and regime delivery.

HMP Coldingley, a Category C resettlement and training prison, faced significant challenges this year due to accelerated prisoner churn, impacting safety, healthcare, and purposeful activity. While improved staffing led to better regime and communication, issues like widespread drug availability, delayed cell refurbishment, and slow mental health transfers remain key concerns. The Board noted positive efforts in staff-prisoner relationships and education but highlighted the need for systemic improvements in property handling and monitoring of progress.

HMP Dovegate, a Category B training prison, experienced an increase in self-harm incidents and use of force during the reporting period, alongside five deaths in custody. Key concerns include a lack of specialist resources and exit plans for prisoners with personality disorders, significant pressure on offender management due to policy changes, and disruptions to the Therapeutic Community. Positively, education attendance and achievements are strong, and the Board notes improvements in property management, healthcare access, and various purposeful activity initiatives.

HMP Onley experienced a challenging year with a restricted regime, largely due to staffing shortages, though improvements were seen towards the end. Key concerns include significant issues with property transfers, a dysfunctional complaints process, and a lack of purposeful activity leading to prisoners spending extended periods in their cells. The Board highlights persistent problems with resettlement progression, including missing OASys reports and slow transfers, alongside concerns about drug availability, self-harm incidents, and the general state of the estate. While staff-prisoner relationships improved and the OMiC model showed promise, the report calls for urgent action on staffing, regime provision, and inmate progression.

HMP/YOI Portland, a Category C prison, faced significant challenges in delivering a stable daily regime, with frequent shutdowns impacting education and activity opportunities. While prisoner-on-prisoner assaults reduced slightly, overall violence remained high, and the prison struggled with drug ingress and staff shortages in mental health services. The Board noted concerns regarding poor building maintenance, staff attitudes towards prisoners, and issues with property transfers.

The IMB at HMP Peterborough (Men) found that prisoners are generally treated fairly and humanely, with a good regime offering an average of 10.5 hours out of cell daily. The prison has an operational capacity of 868 and held 22 IPP prisoners. Positive developments include a decrease in assaults, improved healthcare, and effective resettlement support through initiatives like Outside Links. Key concerns include the persistent issue of lost property, inadequate screening of in-cell toilets, long periods spent in segregation for some individuals, and the difficulty in securing suitable accommodation upon release.

The reporting year at HMP Wealstun was characterized by three distinct periods: improvements prior to an HMIP inspection, subsequent regime curtailments due to financial pressures, and the COVID-19 lockdown. While the prison generally treated prisoners fairly and humanely and healthcare provision was good, the pervasive availability of drugs significantly impacted safety, leading to violence and self-harm. Staffing shortages caused frequent regime restrictions, limiting purposeful activity, and raised concerns about key worker implementation and PAVA training compliance. The Board highlighted a number of ongoing issues, including inadequate resources for equality and diversity, and challenges in managing IPP prisoners and transfers.

HMP Dartmoor, a Category C training prison, generally maintained safety and humane treatment during the reporting year despite Covid-19 challenges. The Board commended staff efforts in managing the pandemic and providing support. However, significant concerns persist regarding the detrimental impact of the impending closure on investment, staffing, and the regime, leading to extended lock-up times and inadequate infrastructure. Long waiting times for mental health transfers and dental care, alongside insufficient support for IPP prisoners, are also key issues.

HMYOI Cookham Wood operated with a restricted regime during the reporting year due to Covid-19, leading to boys being locked in their rooms for extended periods and a significant reduction in purposeful activity and education. Staff shortages exacerbated these issues, though staff dedication and the transformation of the resettlement team were noted positives. Key concerns include the continued lack of secure mental health beds, delays in transferring 18+ year-olds, and inadequate IT facilities, all contributing to an environment the IMB deemed detrimental to the boys' wellbeing and development.

HMP Channings Wood maintained a largely settled environment during a challenging year of Covid-19 restrictions, with notable reductions in self-harm, assaults, and substance misuse. The prison adapted its healthcare and education provisions effectively, earning commendations from Ofsted and HM Inspectorate of Probation for education and resettlement services respectively. However, significant concerns persist regarding staffing shortages impacting key worker schemes and offender management, the backlog in offending behaviour programmes, and ongoing issues with property transfers and resettlement accommodation.

HMP Dovegate, a Category B training prison, maintained a generally calm environment with positive staff-resident relationships despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Board welcomed improvements in facilities, the rollout of body-worn cameras, and innovative staff recruitment. However, significant concerns remain regarding unresolved property transfer issues, the lack of progress for IPP prisoners, and the inadequacy of the healthcare inpatient unit, alongside a dramatic rise in healthcare waiting times due to pandemic restrictions.

HMP Frankland maintained a safe and humane environment during the pandemic, despite a restricted regime. The report highlights successes in staff dedication and reduced self-harm incidents, but raises significant concerns about healthcare provision, especially dental waiting times and the unsuitable physical environment. Staffing shortages in the OMU and inconsistencies in the key worker scheme impacted prisoner progression, alongside issues with property transfers and workshop conditions.

HMP/YOI Hollesley Bay commendably managed 2021 amidst Covid-19, maintaining a safe environment and strong communications. The prison successfully implemented new strategies focused on rehabilitation, earned progression, and employability, which have been largely welcomed. Key areas for development include addressing the ageing estate infrastructure, improving food quality, implementing a key worker system, and resolving issues with property loss and missed healthcare appointments, while also boosting education participation.

HMP/YOI Isis, a training prison for young adults, faced significant challenges during 2021 due to the ongoing pandemic and its transition to a younger population. Self-harm and violence incidents rose considerably, though some safety measures like ACCT cases decreased. The Board expressed ongoing concerns about property issues, delays in mental health transfers, and the impact of reduced face-to-face education and purposeful activity on rehabilitation.

HMP Humber navigated 2021 under significant Covid-19 restrictions, with commendations for management and staff for maintaining stability and low violence. However, the Board expresses grave concerns about the long-term mental health impact of extended lock-up, critical staffing shortages, and issues with healthcare access. Resettlement efforts were hampered by probation service changes, and property loss remained an unresolved, recurring problem.

HMP The Mount has demonstrated significant progress over the last year, particularly in staffing, regime improvement, and the management of safety for vulnerable prisoners. However, profound systemic issues persist, notably the inhumane and unsupported detention of IPP prisoners, and chronic overcrowding due to cell doubling. The prison continues to struggle with pervasive drug availability and inadequate external support for resettlement, leading to high rates of homelessness upon release.

HMP Ashfield, a Category C training and treatment centre for men convicted of sexual offences, has demonstrated an impressive safety record with significant reductions in self-harm and violence. The prison has managed a period of uncertainty due to contract changes well, ensuring good standards of accommodation, healthcare, and key working, which has been externally recognised as an exemplar. However, challenges remain, including delays in ministerial decisions on transfers, difficulties in securing resettlement places, and prisoner dissatisfaction with movement restrictions, which are perceived to make Ashfield feel more like a Category B prison.

HMP The Mount's IMB report highlights a period of little significant change, despite staff's efforts to manage challenges like drugs and overcrowding. While staff-prisoner interactions and healthcare provision showed improvements, key concerns persist regarding the inadequate support for IPP prisoners, severe overcrowding impacting living conditions, and limited purposeful activity opportunities. The Board also noted issues with property management and the unsuitability of the reception area.

HMP Berwyn, a Category C training prison with an operational capacity of 2000, also accommodates B category and remand prisoners. While the Board noted improvements in staff training, purposeful activity, and resettlement outcomes, the prison continues to face significant challenges. These include high levels of self-harm, violence, and drug use, as well as critical issues with mental health provision, particularly long waiting times for secure hospital transfers and the appropriateness of holding mentally unwell individuals in the CSU. Substandard cell conditions, inconsistent key worker provision, and difficulties ensuring adequate time out of cell for working prisoners remain ongoing concerns.

To the detention gatekeeper: not to detain women with current, or a history of, serious mental health issues

The Board was very concerned that the 12-bed Addison unit remained unfit for purpose, with insufficient beds and cells frequently awaiting repair. The waiting time for a bed in the unit was up to seven days. What is being done to improve capacity for mentally ill prisoners?

What are the minister’s plan for those prisoners with complex needs, including severe mental health issues? Despite the various strategies introduced following the Bradley Report, there are increasing numbers of prisoners with complex needs but severe limitations to the appropriate help and resources available. The minister is quoted as saying: ‘It is really important that we are clear about whether …

The Prison Service needs to address the issue of residents with severe mental health problems waiting long periods of time in prison before transferring to more appropriate accommodation elsewhere.

continue to work with colleagues in other government departments to ensure that appropriate facilities are available for those prisoners with mental health issues, in order to prevent the need for prisons to hold them in segregation for extended periods

Although the numbers are small, and the Gatekeeping process has improved, the Board has still had to report that two prisoners were held for a long time in inhumane conditions with deteriorating mental health while waiting for secure hospital accommodation (see section 6.2.1). In his reply to the Board’s previous report, the minister stated that ‘NHS England and NHS Improvement …

work with NHS England to address the concerns that prison is not the environment that will deliver positive changes for prisoners with chronic and enduring mental illness or personality disorders (see section 6.3)

The prison continues to be challenged by the need to manage many prisoners with severe and enduring mental health problems and complex needs. Over the year, there has been a significant reduction in the time spent by these prisoners in long-term segregation within the prison. Nationally, there is still a pressing need for more specialist facilities that can be easily …

Similarly, the Board remains concerned about the difficulties encountered in transferring prisoners with severe mental health/behavioural issues to an environment where they can be treated effectively. Again, will the minister work with colleagues in other departments to ensure greater availability of more suitable locations for these prisoners?

Women with mental health issues and complex needs who would be better treated in the health rather than criminal justice system continue to be sent to Eastwood Park. When will the Minister take action to reduce this significantly?

Will the minister discuss with colleague health ministers the provision of proper appropriate service outside of prison for those prisoners suffering from severe mental ill-health and the need for this to increase as a matter of urgency in order to provide the best opportunity for recovery (see section 6.2 Mental healthcare)?

Reduce the number of the seriously mentally ill being sentenced to incarceration; at the same time, ensure that a greater number of emergency mental health beds are available for prisoners in extreme need.

To consider what options there are so that prison is not used to house severely mentally ill people whilst they await a place in a suitable institution.

The Board is particularly concerned about the number of prisoners who have significant mental health issues and who are often on short-term sentences. Short-term sentences mitigate against constructive interventions on their behalf and, in any event, the prison is not equipped to deal with the complexity of problems these prisoners have. When will the Minister introduce measures that enable prisoners …

Will the Minister speak to colleagues in the Department for Health and Social Care to improve prisoners’ timely access to specialist mental health facilities, where required?

Will the Minister speak to colleagues to seek to ensure that there are sufficient beds in secure mental health hospitals to speed up the transfer of prisoners and support their rehabilitation?

How does the Minister plan to avoid this happening to other prisoners with mental health issues? [delay in transferring a prisoner with a significant mental health condition]

The 28-day target for transfer from custody to a secure hospital was not met locally in five out of 29 cases. When will action be taken to address the gaps in hospital provision?

The number of secure mental health spaces available is not adequate for the number of seriously mentally ill prisoners. Funding for more spaces is desperately required.

The Minister should increase access to sufficient and appropriate mental healthcare within the prison system.

Would the Minister consider the impact of prison on those with serious mental illness and review systems for assessment and more appropriate placements?

Can the Minister explain how the Government intends to address longstanding and yet unresolved problems with the assessment and transfer of prisoners who present with serious mental health and personality disorders from HMP Wakefield to hospital (section 47, Mental Health Act 1983)?

It takes too long to transfer mentally ill prisoners to secure mental health facilities. This often means that they have to be held in the Care and Separation Unit (CSU) for their own safety for extended periods of time. What is the Minister doing in conjunction with the Department of Health to address the shortfall in secure mental health places?

Again, the Board raises its continuing concern about prisoners who are seriously mentally unwell being held in prison and frequently having to be detained in the Care and Separation Unit. Prison is not the appropriate environment for prisoners who are severely mentally unwell. We again ask for greater provision to be made available for such prisoners so they can be …

How does the Minister plan to work with colleagues across the Government to increase the provision of specialist secure mental health services for prisoners with serious mental health problems?

Despite assurances in response to concerns raised last year, the delay in relocating prisoners with severe mental health issues continues. When does the minister expect this to change?

Will the Minister speak to colleagues in the Department for Health and Social Care to improve prisoners’ timely access to specialist mental health facilities, where required?

The Government should improve outcomes for mentally unwell prisoners in detention, addressing the issue of them being held in the CSRU for long periods despite failing the medical algorithm.

Prisoners with complex and severe mental health needs are frequently received, or remain too long, at HMP Foston Hall, rather than being accommodated and cared for in hospital or in the community in line with the ambitions of the female offender strategy. When will this be addressed?

The use of segregation to manage prisoners experiencing a mental health crisis is an increasingly disturbing and unacceptable situation. The lack of available secure beds cannot continue to be used as an excuse for a systemic problem in the prison system. The criminal justice system, in its entirety, must urgently address this complex problem. Some of these women should never …

The number of secure mental health spaces available is not adequate for the number of seriously mentally ill prisoners. The length of time prisoners wait for a space in these units and the number of people they assault in this time is significant. When and how will the Minister address this urgent issue?

The Board remains extremely concerned about the length of time it takes for a mentally ill patients to be transferred to a secure hospital. All too often, prison managers have few options open to them during this ‘waiting’ period and prisoners are invariably held in the CSU, resulting in a further deterioration of their mental health. When and how will …

Does the Prison Service agree that segregated conditions are not appropriate for prisoners who are mentally unwell? What steps are being taken to address this?

Can the Minister provide the Board with further updates on how the government intends to address longstanding and yet unresolved problems with the assessment and transfer of prisoners who present with serious mental health and personality disorders from HMP Wakefield to hospital (section 47, Mental Health Act 1983)?

Too many vulnerable and very mentally unwell prisoners have been sent to prison due to a lack of suitable services in the community. What progress has been made to increase the number of secure mental health placements in the region and improve timely access?

Why has the situation remained unchanged since our last report regarding prisoners being constantly located in the CSU due to their complex and challenging behaviour and mental health issues?

The increase in prisoners with severe mental health issues puts considerable strain on the staff. What additional support can be provided for such prisoners or what alternative, more suitable accommodation can be found for them?

What is being done to bolster mental health services to offer adequate help to the high numbers of prisoners with mental health problems?

The Board asks that, in regard to those prisoners who have undertaken a gatekeeping assessment, the Director-General considers providing prison management with further resources, such that they will have increased options when assessing where to locate a prisoner whilst waiting for a bed in a secure hospital.

The Board asks that, in regard to those prisoners who have undertaken a gatekeeping assessment, the Director-General considers providing prison management with further resources, such that they will have increased options when assessing where to locate a prisoner whilst waiting for a bed in a secure hospital.

Will the service work with NHS colleagues to boost investment in mental health services in the prison and in particular review the adequacy of psychiatry provision?

Will the Minister work with government colleagues to ensure that the forthcoming Mental Health Bill identifies appropriate measures to improve care for prisoners with severe mental illness, including more provision in secure units, and ensure that these measures are properly resourced and delivered with minimum delay?

The issue of severe mental health and the actions necessary to resolve, continue to be ignored. Too many prisoners should be in secure mental health hospitals/establishments and not remain in the general prison population. How will the prison service ensure prisoners with complex mental health challenges receive the support they need in appropriate facilities?

The Board would also raise the issue of severe mental health. In the Board’s view many prisoners, who should be in secure mental health hospitals/establishments remain in the general prison population.

The demand for specialised provision for prisoners with mental health and/or personality disorders needs remains higher than the provision available. Will the Prison Service create a structured plan to increase both spaces and staff to support them, with clinical staff as well as administrative?

The Prison Service should take action to get mentally unwell men out of unsuitable accommodation and into secure hospitals far more quickly.

Can he inform the Board what progress has been made over the last year to improve conditions for IPP prisoners and to reduce the risks to their own mental health and wellbeing? Could he also specify how he plans to address the other barriers to release, such as frequent delays or adjournments in parole hearings; the need for more robust …

As reported in the Board’s last annual report, the prison is challenged by the need to manage many prisoners with severe and enduring mental health problems and complex needs. The prison is having to contend with an increasing number of high-risk prisoners in low-risk accommodation, which has an impact on safety and security.

To the detention gatekeeper: not to detain women with current, or a history of, serious mental health issues.

What assurances can be offered to ensure that prisoners suffering from these symptoms can be swiftly placed in specialist accommodation to best support their needs?