§ Mr. Alan Clarkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the correct re-detention rate for violent offenders released prematurely from Broadmoor hospital.
§ Dr. VaughanI shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Alan Clarkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average annual number of examinations accorded to violent prisoners by the senior psychiatric consultants of Broadmoor in the period preceding their release into the community.
66W
§ Dr. VaughanIf a patient in Broadmoor is "unrestricted"—that is, not subject to restrictions under section 65 of the Mental Health Act 1959—his detention expires at the end of each year for the first two years, and every two years thereafter. Under section 43 of the Act, the responsible medical officer must examine him in the two months preceding the day on which his detention requires renewal; if he decides to renew detention the Department must be notified.
If a patient is admitted under section 65, detention does not have to be renewed, but examinations are carried out by the responsible medical officer, who then reports to the Department at similar intervals.
Over and above these formal examinations, patients are seen by their responsible medical officers, who are consultant psychiatrists, as frequently as clinically necessary. It is not possible to give the exact number of these examinations because they vary widely, depending on the needs of the individual patient. For example, they will include formal examinations, visits to the wards, and case conferences with other disciplines.