§ Lord Hunt of Wirralasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the new security directions at Broadmoor have had an adverse effect on the attempts of the staff to inculcate pro-social attitudes in the patients. [HL5761]
What is their response to the view of the manager of the Mental Health Act Commission team that the new security directions at Broadmoor are omnipresent and demoralise both staff and patients. [HL5762]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathGovernment policy with regard to the provision of high security psychiatric services is to secure the safety of the public, staff and patients, and to ensure that the best possible services are offered to patients who need to receive their care and treatment in a high security setting. The three high security hospitals must achieve an appropriate balance between therapy and security.
The safety and security directions were originally introduced as a result of the findings of the committee of inquiry into the Personality Disorder Unit, Ashworth Special Hospital (Fallon inquiry) that reported in 1999. They were amended in the light of recommendations arising from the review of security at the high security hospitals that was published in 2000. The directions were designed to address significant security shortcomings and inconsistencies identified across the three high security hospitals and 232WA to assist in providing a safer environment for patients and staff that should enhance, rather than provide a barrier to, the therapeutic activities of the hospitals.
Following the Fallon inquiry, an additional £6.3 million was made available to increase staffing in the three hospitals. At Broadmoor Hospital this has allowed an additional 100 full-time equivalent nurses to be recruited and sufficient occupational therapists to achieve input to each clinical team. This has enhanced the range of therapeutic interventions available for patients.