Mental Health Services

Earl of Sandwich Excerpts

Monday 19th October 2015 Lords Chamber

[Lord Prior of Brampton]

The noble Baroness makes a very strong point that people with mental health problems who are in prison should be entitled to exactly the same care as people who are not in prison, and the extent to which that is not the case should be addressed. It is an issue that I will certainly take up outside the House.

[The Earl of Sandwich (CB)]

My Lords, I am sure the Minister knows about the ill effects of many very common prescribed drugs, which can contribute to mental illness. I have experience of that in my own family. However, is he also aware that there are no significant government services for those mental health patients? Will he follow the lead of the BMA, which is preparing a document right now on that subject?

[Lord Prior of Brampton]

I am not aware of the report being prepared by the BMA but I will certainly be very interested in seeing it, reading it and discussing it with it.