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<p>Health assessments are undertaken during an individual’s reception into prison
or a youth offender institution. This includes a mental health assessment, which identifies
any treatment and support needed. Information on the proportion of people with mental
health difficulties entering prison or a youth offender institution is not available
centrally.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Government is rolling out liaison and
diversion services in police stations and courts across England, commissioned by NHS
England and with full coverage by 2017. Funding for these services in 2014-15 is £25
million. These services identify offenders with vulnerabilities, including mental
health problems, in order to facilitate referral into relevant treatment services
as soon as possible.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Since April 2013, NHS England has
commissioned health services within prisons and young offender institutions. As in
the community, prison mental health services are provided through a combination of
primary care and specialist teams and most prisoners’ needs can be met by primary
care. Care for prisoners’ more serious mental health conditions is usually provided
by specialist in-reach teams, but if prisoners’ need psychiatric inpatient care they
can be transferred to a secure mental health hospital if they meet the criteria to
be detained under the Mental Health Act 1983.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>For offenders
leaving custody, National Health Service guidance sets an expectation that prisoners
are either registered with a general practitioner (GP) practice before they leave
or are provided with the necessary information to register with a GP on release and,
where possible, provided with support in doing so. This will help facilitate continuity
of care on release.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Released prisoners can access the
full range of mental health services available in the community. Offenders with identified
mental health problems, who need secondary mental health services, are subject to
the Care Programme Approach (CPA) during their stay in prison and on release. CPA
enables the planning of treatment and continuity of mental health care for the individual.
On release from prison, offenders needing CPA should have a care plan and, pre-release,
the prison mental health in-reach team should inform and share information with the
individual's GP to ensure continuity of care.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong>
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