The information requested is shown in the table. The number of transferred prisoners includes both restricted and unrestricted patients, and includes prisoners suffering from all the categories of mental disorder defined in the Mental Health Act 1983 before its amendment with effect from 3 November 2008.
Total number of transfers to hospital involving sentenced prisoners Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage 2004 405 155 38.3 102 25.2 72 17.8 15 3.7 2005 414 181 43.7 119 28.7 82 19.8 7 1.7 2006 488 208 42.6 121 24.8 77 15.8 14 2.9 2007 455 202 44.4 116 25.5 82 18.0 1 0.2 2008 508 206 40.6 119 23.4 79 15.6 2 0.4
Many of the prisoners who were transferred within one month or one week of their release date were serving short sentences of less than six months. The Secretary of State will only authorise a transfer very close to the end of sentence where he is satisfied on the basis of medical advice that it is justified by the prisoner’s medical condition.