§ Helen JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of doctors currently working in the Prison Service are qualified in psychiatry; and what plans he has to increase the numbers qualified. [13197]
§ Ms QuinTwenty-one out of 197 doctors employed by the Prison Service are either members of the Royal College of Psychiatrists or holders of the diploma in psychiatric medicine. In addition, visiting specialists from the national health service provide the Prison Service with specialist psychiatric services.
The Prison Service, in conjunction with Nottingham university, introduced the diploma in prison medicine in October 1996. The aim of the diploma is to support the professional development of prison doctors. It has a significant psychiatric component which should be helpful to those doctors who are not specifically qualified in psychiatry.
§ Helen JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners in England and Wales are currently awaiting transfer to NHS psychiatric hospitals; and what is the average waiting time for such a transfer. [13195]
§ Ms QuinOn 28 October 1997, 49 prisoners—25 sentenced and 24 unsentenced—were awaiting transfer to a national health service psychiatric hospital. The average time taken in 1996 between receipt in the Home Office of an application for transfer, which includes the two medical reports required under the Mental Health Act 1983, and the issue of a warrant authorising transfer to hospital, was eight days in the case of unsentenced prisoners and 16 days for sentenced prisoners.
Only in very exceptional circumstances would transfer not take place within 14 days of the issue of a warrant.