§ Ms CoffeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects disciplinary and grievance procedures for staff to be in place for(a) Ashworth, (b) Rampton and (c) Broadmoor. [3645]
§ Mr. BurnsDisciplinary and grievance procedures are in place at all three high security hospitals.
§ Ms CoffeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of breaches of security incidents in each of the last five years for(a) Rampton, (b) Ashworth and (c) Broadmoor. [3646]
§ Mr. BurnsThe following tables list the number of breaches of security incidents at the three high security hospitals. For the purposes of this survey roof top incidents were classified as a breach of security although incidents of this kind are not uncommon in a high security mental health environment. Staff are fully trained to deal with this challenging group of patients and untoward incidents in the three hospitals are speedily contained and swiftly resolved.
It is worth pointing out that thousands of rehabilitation programmes outside secure mental health environments take place every year without incident. The secure hospitals are places of treatment and care, and rehabilitation is a key component of the management of people with severe and enduring mental health problems. In view of the level of public concern over recent patient absconds while on rehabilitation programmes, the following measures were deemed necessary.
The High Security Psychiatric Services Commissioning Board, the three special health authorities, specialist clinicians, the mental health and community care division of the Department of Health and the Home Office have 253W established, with immediate effect, a steering group to examine professional practice around rehabilitation programmes outside secure mental health environments.
Breaches of security at Broadmoor hospital authority Type/year 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 Total Escape — 1 — — — 1 Abscond 1 4 — — — 5 Roof-top — — — — 1 1 Hostage — — — — — 0 Total 1 5 0 0 1 7
Breaches of security at Ashworth hospital authority Type/year 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 Total Escape — 2 — — — 2 Abscond 1 3 2 2 3 11 Roof-top1 — 1 11 9 6 27 Hostage — — 1 — 1 2 Total 1 6 14 11 10 42 1 Please note that it is relatively easy to climb on the roofs of wards in the north and south campus of Ashworth hospital authority. The hospital does not regard this as a breach of security.
Breaches of security at Rampton hospital authority Type/year 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 Total Escape — — 1 — — 1 Abscond 3 1 — 1 — 5 Roof-top — — — — — 0 Hostage — — — — — 0 Total 3 1 1 1 0 6
§ Ms CoffeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the number of recorded assaults on staff in each of the past five years at(a) Rampton, (b) Ashworth and (c) Broadmoor; [3647]
(2) if he will list the number of prosecutions for assaults on staff in each of the past five years for (a) Rampton, (b) Ashworth and (c) Broadmoor; [3648]
(3) on what dates the most recent work place risk assessments for (a) Broadmoor, (b) Rampton and (c) Ashworth were completed. [3649]
§ Mr. BurnsData about recorded assaults on staff in each of the past five years, the number of prosecutions for assaults on staff and the most recent work place assessments at Ashworth, Rampton and Broadmoor are not kept centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mrs. Janice Miles, the chief executive of Ashworth hospital authority, Ms Sheila Foley, the chief executive of Rampton hospital authority, and Mr. Alan Franey, the chief executive of Broadmoor hospital authority for further information.