Mental Welfare Commission Welcomes Report From Prison Chief, Scotland

Main Category: Mental Health
Article Date: 05 Dec 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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Donny Lyons, Director of the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland today made the following statement on Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prison 'Out of Sight - severe and enduring mental health problems in Scotland's prisons:

As a body with a statutory duty to safeguard the care and treatment rights of people with a mental illness or learning disability in Scotland, the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland welcomes today's report by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons.

As part of our visiting programme, our staff regularly visit prisons and work on behalf of prisoners who have specific mental healthcare needs. Prison staff have at times raised concerns with us about the appropriateness of keeping someone who is severely ill in prison. Last year we carried out an investigation into exactly one such case.

Prisons are not a place where recovery from a severe and enduring mental illness can take place. We fully agree with HM Chief Inspector of Prisons that people should receive the right psychiatric care, in the right place at the right time.

Mental Welfare Commission