Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-q99xh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-22T16:55:07.314Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The Bentham Unit: A pilot remand and assessment service for male mentally disordered remand prisoners

I: Clinical activity in the first year, and related ethical, practical and funding issues

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2018

Kevin Murray ,
Akintunde Akinkunmi ,
Martin Lock  and
Rosslyn Brown
Kevin Murray*
Affiliation:
The Bentham Unit, West London Healthcare NHS Trust, Southall, Middlesex
Akintunde Akinkunmi
Affiliation:
The Bentham Unit, West London Healthcare NHS Trust, Southall, Middlesex
Martin Lock
Affiliation:
The Bentham Unit, West London Healthcare NHS Trust, Southall, Middlesex
Rosslyn Brown
Affiliation:
The Bentham Unit, West London Healthcare NHS Trust, Southall, Middlesex
*
Dr Kevin Murray. The Bentham Unit. North West Thames Forensic Psychiatry Service, West London Healthcare NHS Trust. Uxbridge Road. Southall. Middlesex UBI 3EU
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Background

Because of continuing concern regarding the inadequacy of existing NHS provision for mentally disordered remand prisoners, the Bentham Unit was commissioned as a pilot project to provide rapid assessment and, where appropriate, hospital admission for such prisoners from the former North West Thames catchment area.

Method

Information is presented on the 150 referrals and 62 admissions in the first year of the service's operation.

Results

The service met the Reed Report targets for assessment time. Most of those referred were previously known to psychiatric services. The alleged offences were more serious than anticipated. Those admitted were transferred to appropriate services of the conclusion of their court cases, and remained in contact with services three months later. Waiting for the conclusion of court proceedings significantly prolonged the length of stay. Substantial cost transfers from the criminal justice system to the health system were evident.

Conclusions

Adequate services for mentally disordered remand prisoners are entirely achievable; provision of such services is a resource issue, not a clinical problem.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 170 , Issue 5 , May 1997 , pp. 456 - 461
Copyright
Copyright © 1997 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Akinkunmi, A. & Murray, K (1997) Inadequacies in the Mental Health Act 1983 in relation to mentally disordered remand prisoners. Medicine, Science and the Low. 37, 53–57.Google Scholar
Banerjee, S., O'Neill-Byrne, K., Exworthy, T., et al (1995) The Belmarsh Scheme: a prospective study of the transfer of mentally disordered remand prisoners from prison to psychiatric units. British Journal of Psychiatry: 166, 802–805.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bowden, P. (1976) Medical practice: defendants and prisoners. Journal of Medical Ethics. 2, 163–172.Google Scholar
Chiswick, D. (1985) Use and abuse of psychiatric testimony. British Medical Journal. 290, 975–977.Google Scholar
Cold, J. W. (1988) Mentally abnormal prisoners on remand British Medical Journal. 294, 1779–1784.Google Scholar
Department of Health (1993) Health of the Nation Key Areas Handbook. Mental illness London: DoH.Google Scholar
Department of Health & Home Office (1991a) Review of Health and Social Services for Mentally Disordered Offenders and Others Requiring Similar Services (The Reed Report). London: Department of Health, Home Office.Google Scholar
Department of Health & Home Office (1991b) Review of Health and Social Services for Mentally Disordered Offenders and Others Requiring Similar Services Report of the Prison Advisory Croup A Document fix Consultation. London: Department of Health. Home Office.Google Scholar
Gunn, J., Maden, A. & Swinton, M. (1991) Treatment needs of prisoners with psychiatric disorders. British Medical Journol. 303, 338–341.Google Scholar
Office, Home (1990) Provision fix Mentally Disordered Offenders (Circular 66/90) London: Home Office.Google Scholar
Office, Home (1995) Mentally Disordered Offenders Inter-agency Working (Crcular 12/95). London: Home Office.Google Scholar
Home Office & Department of Health and Social Security (1975) Report of the Committee on Mentally Abnormal Offenders (The Butler Report). Cmnd 6244. London: HMSO.Google Scholar
Independent, (1994) Bottomley faces court threat over secure beds 8 November, p 5.Google Scholar
Inspectorate of Prisons (1996) Patient or Prisoner? A New Strategy fix Health Care in Prisons. London: Home Office.Google Scholar
James, D. & Hamilton, L. (1991) The Clerkenwell Scheme: assessing the efficacy and cost of a psychiatric liaison service to a Magistrates'court. British Medical Journal. 303, 282–285.Google Scholar
Joseph, P. L. A. & Potter, M. (1993) Diversion from custody: I Psychiatric assessment of the Magistrates' court; II. Effect on hospital and prison resources. British Journal of Psychiatry. 142, 325–334 Google Scholar
Maden, A., Taylor, C. J. A., Brooke, D. et al (1994) Mental Disorder m Remand Prisoners A Report to the Home Office. London: Home Office.Google Scholar
Murray, K. (1996) The use of beds in NHS medium secure units in England. Journal of Forensic Psychiatry 7, 504–524.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Needham-Bennett, H. & Cummings, I (1995) Waiting for a disaster to happen. British Medical Journal. 311, 516–517.Google Scholar
Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (1991) Census. HAM4. HAM 5. London: OPCS.Google Scholar
Service, Prison (1996) Prison Health Annual Report. Director of Healthcare 1994–95. London: HM Prison Service.Google Scholar
Robertson, G., Dell, S., James, K., et al (1994) Psychotic men remanded in custody to Brixton Prison. British Journal of Psychiatry, 164, 55–61.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Royal College of Psychiatrists (1989) Position Statement on Confidentiality Council report CR7. London: Royal College of Psychiatrists.Google Scholar
Weaver, T., Taylor, F., Cunningham, B., et al (1997) The Bentham Unit a pilot remand and assessment service for male mentally disordered remand prisoners. II: Report of an independent evaluation. British Journal of Psychiatry. 170, 462–466.Google Scholar
Submit a response

eLetters

No eLetters have been published for this article.