Responsibility to secure appropriate mental health treatment and care within the prison estate transferred fully to primary care trusts with commissioning responsibility in the NHS in 2006. Investment increased from £118 million in 2002-03 to nearly £200 million in 2006-07 and 2007-08.
Mental health treatment and care is delivered by the NHS within prisons. By 2005-06 nearly £20 million was being invested recurrently in mental health in-reach. There are now 102 mental health in-reach teams and all prisons have access to them: a total of 360 extra staff altogether. These teams apply NHS standards to the care and management of patients. This includes where relevant management under the care programme approach, individual support and treatment plans and access to day services and psychological therapies. For those individuals who are assessed to be too ill to treat in prison arid meet the criteria for detention under section of the Mental Health Act are transferred to hospital for treatment.
Last year, 28 per cent. more prisoners, with mental illness too severe for prison, were transferred to hospital than in 2002—up to 926 from 723. There has also been a significant decrease in the number of people waiting for a transfer. At the end of December 2007 there were 40 people waiting for a bed for more than 12 weeks. At the end of March 2008 there were only 24.
In relation to the small number of people with a severe personality disorder who are dangerous, the Department of Health and Ministry of Justice is investing in special secure services. The programme has a capacity of over 300 places in two high security prisons (Frankland and Whitemoor); a female prison (Low Newton in Durham) and two high security hospitals (Broadmoor and Rampton). They provide essential clinical services for dangerous offenders whose offending is linked to severe personality disorder.
We continue to investigate the issues and have commissioned Lord Bradley to review a wide range of services for offenders with mental health issues. The Government welcomed the report prepared last year by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons on the mental health of prisoners and the recommendations made therein for improving the quality of mental health treatment and care. There continues to be investment in prison health services to meet the needs of prisoners with mental health problems. All prisoners receive a health assessment when received into prison, prisons now have access to mental health in reach teams, this enables prisoners with mental health problems to be treated and managed in a variety of locations within prisons, reflecting the care and treatment that would be available in community settings. Day services are available in some establishments to support individuals with mental health problems.
Additional funding for drug services is being made available to meet the needs of prisoners with dual diagnosis. For those individuals who are too ill to be managed in a custodial setting and whose mental health needs have been assessed as meeting the criteria for detention under the Mental Health Act, are transferred to hospital for treatment and only return to prison when well enough. The Department of Health in partnership with the MoJ will publish its strategy ‘Improving Health Supporting Justice’ next year incorporating our views on the quality and future direction of health care in prisons fallowing a public consultation. The strategy will also take account of the recommendations that Lord Bradley will make on the potential to divert people with mental health problems and/or learning difficulties away from prison. This builds on the work we already do to divert over 500 mentally disordered offenders to hospital every year, avoiding prison altogether, and to transfer over 800 people a year from prison if they need specialist treatment in hospital.
I meet with the Chief Inspector on a regular basis and discuss a variety of issues. The Government welcomed the HM Inspector of Prisons thematic review on the mental health of prisoners published in 2007 and the recommendations made therein for improving the quality of mental health treatment and care. We also welcome the Chief Inspector's most recent report on the indeterminate sentence for public protection. The Department of Health in partnership with the Ministry of Justice will publish its strategy Improving Health Supporting Justice' next year incorporating our views on the quality and future direction of health care in prisons following a public consultation. This will also take account of the recommendations that Lord Bradley will make on the potential to divert people with mental health problems and/or learning disabilities away from prison.