Cash boost will accelerate care of mental health patients in custody

Abstract

A £25 million cash injection for nurses working in the criminal justice system should help improve identifi cation of people with mental health problems, says the RCN. Care and support minister Norman Lamb (pictured), who announced the funding last week, said the money would ensure people with mental health problems or learning disabilities were identifi ed early and received the right treatment as quickly as possible. ‘Too often, people with mental health illnesses, learning disabilities and substance misuse who come into the criminal justice system are only diagnosed when they reach prison,’ he said. The money will be used to pilot a scheme placing mental health nurses at police stations and in courts, thereby expanding liaison and diversion services, across ten areas in England. The Department of Health said the areas where the scheme will be piloted, which include London, Sussex, Sunderland and Wakefi eld, already have nurses based in police custody suites or courts, but there is variation in the services they provide. Some areas only provide services for children, while others have a nurse based at police stations, but not one at court. If the pilot is successful, the model will be introduced across the country in 2017. As part of the pilot, trusts will be expected to provide nursing care for people of all ages. They will also be expected to monitor when they are most busy to identify what hours the liaison and diversion services need to operate.