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<p>NHS England and NHS Improvement are currently working across the entire criminal
justice pathway to develop and improve services for offenders with mental health difficulties.</p><p>
</p><p>NHS England and NHS Improvement are working with partners to intervene at the
earliest opportunity to ensure that offenders receive the right care, in the right
place, at the right time.</p><p> </p><p>Liaison and Diversion Services operate in
police stations and courts to identify and assess people with vulnerabilities including
mental health issues. Where that individual is subsequently sent to prison the receiving
prison will have the relevant information of the individual’s mental health needs
to inform the reception healthcare staff so that they can implement appropriate interventions
as soon as possible after they arrive.</p><p> </p><p>Health services are available
across the estate where assessment identifies treatment needs.</p><p> </p><p>The service
specification for prison mental health services was reviewed in 2017-18. This review,
led by clinicians in conjunction with stakeholders and informed by experts with experience,
was published in March 2018, with all new services being commissioned against it from
April 2018. The new specification includes the Royal College of Psychiatrists Quality
Network for Prison Mental Health Services standards, ensuring equity of quality across
the estate.</p><p> </p><p>NHS England and NHS Improvement are currently consulting
on revised Transfer and Remission guidance to ensure that new clinically developed
timescales are set which ensure timely and appropriate access to mental health treatment
in hospital when necessary, in a clinically safe and well managed way. The consultation
ends on 19 July 2019.</p><p> </p><p>The NHS Long Term Plan committed to a new service
to support people leaving custody to remain engaged with community-based healthcare
services. The reconnect service will support continuity of care when people return
to the community.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p>
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