Prisoners' Transfers: Compulsorily Detained Psychiatric Patients

(asked on 27th November 2023) - View Source

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the time taken to transfer prisoners with mental health issues to secure hospitals.


Answered by
Edward Argar Portrait
Edward Argar
Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
This question was answered on 4th December 2023

The Lord Chancellor has not yet had an opportunity to meet the Health Secretary on this issue since her appointment this month.

However, we are determined to reduce unnecessary delays and ensure that people in prison who meet the criteria for detention under the Mental Health Act and require a transfer to hospital can access the specialist care and treatment they need in a timely manner.

Working closely with our health and justice partners, we are driving forward work to introduce a non-statutory independent role designed to improve oversight and monitor delivery of the 28-day time limit set out in NHS England’s good practice guidance.

Reticulating Splines