Prisons: Mental Health

Lord Bradley Excerpts
Wednesday 24th June 2015

(9 years, 4 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Bradley Portrait Lord Bradley (Lab)
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My Lords, it is vital that a prison has all relevant information about an offender’s health needs when they arrive at prison reception. Does the Minister agree that an evaluation of the current health screen should be undertaken to improve the identification of mental health problems at prison reception and that the identification of learning disabilities should be part of that screen?

Lord Prior of Brampton Portrait Lord Prior of Brampton
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The noble Lord raised this in his report five years ago and in the follow-up report that was published more recently. A very early assessment of a prisoner when he arrives in prison is of course extremely important.