§ Mr. ÖpikTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what access to the NHS is available to mentally disordered prisoners; what information is562W collated by the Prison Service about mentally disordered prisoners' medical history; what information is passed on to the NHS after release; and if he will make a statement. [11910]
§ Ms QuinPrisoners who are mentally disordered in accordance with the criteria in the Mental Health Act 1983 for detention as in-patients for medical treatment can be transferred to psychiatric hospital. Prisoners with mental health problems who do not meet those criteria receive care and treatment in prison, often under the supervision of a qualified psychiatrist as occurs in the community.
On their first reception into prison, all prisoners receive a physical and mental health examination which includes a psychiatric history. Prison staff may, with the prisoner's agreement, request individual records or other medical reports from the national health service in cases where that is considered necessary.
Where there is a need for continuing treatment after release, medical information is transferred from the prison doctor to the prisoner's general practitioner or other responsible agency in the community. Where a prisoner does not consent to such disclosure, but his or her mental ill health places them or others in the community at significant risk, such information would be disclosed to an appropriate person or agency and the prisoner informed accordingly. The Prison Service plans to issue a new health care standard on "Continuity of Health Care" which will give additional advice to establishments on exchanges of information about health care matters between the Prison Service and other agencies.