§ 49. Mr. Leeasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what guidance he now provides to hospital authorities regarding the acceptance and rejection of patients considered by the courts as suitable for in-patient treatment at mental hospitals in cases where the hospitals concerned are reluctant to accept patients 375W for security or other reasons; and if he will publish a synopsis of any guidance he has provided in writing.
§ Mr. EnnalsThe question whether an individual patient can be treated effectively in the facilities available in a particular psychiatric hospital may involve the clinical judgment of the consultant and his team. It would not be appropriate for me to give guidance on this.
My Department has sent to health authorities under cover of circular letter D/S 163/72 issued in June 1972 a booklet issued jointly by my Department and the Home Office entitled "Mentally Disordered Offenders: Information for Doctors on the Respective Roles of Hospitals, Local Authorities and Prison Services". We have also drawn to the attention of health authorities, in circular HN(77) 107 issued in July 1977, an article by the Royal College of Psychiatrists entitled "Guidelines on the Care and Treatment of Mentally Disturbed Offenders".
I am aware that there is sometimes difficulty, when security is considered necessary, in finding an NHS place. The question of security is dealt with in "Better Services for the Mentally Ill" (Cmnd. 6233), and also in the report of the working party on security in NHS psychiatric hospitals, sent to health authorities in July 1974 with circular HSC (IS) 61.
Copies of these documents are being placed in the Library.