HC Deb 28 November 1988 vol 142 c70W
Mr. Goodlad

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what have been the findings of the study by the Institute of Psychiatry, London on(a) schizophrenia and (b) mental illness in the prison population; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

As I said in my reply to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Eddisbury (Mr. Goodlad) on 25 January, at column1, this important study, which is intended to provide a sound basis on which the Department is able to consider the further development of its policies on mentally disordered offenders in the prison system, will take three years. The report from the Institute of Psychiatry is expected in October 1990.

Mr. Goodlad

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what new arrangements have been made for patients in prison suffering from mental illness to be assessed by National Health Service medical staff prior to release back into the community; what has been the extent of such assessments; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

The desirability of developing such arrangements for facilitating the continuity of care of a mentally disordered inmate on release from prison was included in the recommendations of a joint Home Office/Department of Health working group and accepted by the Government. Progress is as follows.

The Departments are in discussion about guidance to regional and district health authorities and also with the professions on how this ought to be given effect. Revised prison department instructions and a model letter for use by prison medical officers, both presently in draft, will provide an administrative framework for NHS medical staff to be invited to visit an inmate and to discuss his case with the responsible medical officer.