❓ Question addresses mental health assessment and treatment of prisoners, both upon entering and exiting prison, following recommendations from the Mahoney Inquiry. The answer outlines current procedures and planned legislative changes to improve continuity of care.
AnsweredQoN 3938Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
Given that the Mahoney Inquiry made recommendations regarding the mental health assessment of prisoners when entering and exiting prison, I ask -
(1) Is the Minister concerned about the reportedly high level of untreated mental illness in jails?
(2) What arrangements are currently in place for prisoners to be assessed by a mental health professional when taken into custody?
(3) How does the Minister ensure appropriate treatment referral and ultimate successful return to the community of prisoners with mental health issues?
(1) Is the Minister concerned about the reportedly high level of untreated mental illness in jails?
(2) What arrangements are currently in place for prisoners to be assessed by a mental health professional when taken into custody?
(3) How does the Minister ensure appropriate treatment referral and ultimate successful return to the community of prisoners with mental health issues?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
20 September 2006
Responded by
Minister for Local Government and Regional Development representing the Minister for Corrective Services
Response time
29 days
(2) Once a prisoner is received into prison they are assessed by nursing staff and medical officers. If, during this assessment phase clinical staff detect the prisoner has mental health issues, a referral is made to a mental health nurse or a general medical practitioner in the prison. An assessment is then made on the prisoner and appropriate treatment commenced. If it is determined during assessment that treatment by a forensic psychiatrist is required the appropriate referral is made. Forensic psychiatrists provide treatment in prisons for prisoners diagnosed with possible mental illness. Prisoners with serious mental health illness can be admitted from prison to the Frankland Centre. Ongoing mental health care and treatment is then provided. If at any stage of assessment and receival into prison there are indications of self-harm appropriate, referrals are made for the prisoner to see a psychologist. (3) Prior to being released from prison, referrals are made to community based mental health care providers for prisoners with mental health illness. The appropriate transfer of patient medical information is made using patient consent and release of information protocols. If the health centre receives notification that an appointment has been made with a community mental health provider for prisoners after their release, the appointment details are provided to the prisoner prior to them being released. There have been legislative constraints on the effective treatment of prisoners once released - in particular the sharing of information between Departments and non-government service providers has been restricted. The Government has introduced changes to legislation, in the form of the Prisons and Sentencing Legislation Amendments Bill 2006 , that will allow the Department of Corrective Services to facilitate effective case management of offenders with mental health issues. These changes will significantly improve the ability to plan for the release of offenders and ensure there is continuity in their health care once released from prison. These amendments have passed the Legislative Assembly and are currently being debated in the Legislative Council.
An assessment is then made on the prisoner and appropriate treatment commenced. If it is determined during assessment that treatment by a forensic psychiatrist is required the appropriate referral is made. Forensic psychiatrists provide treatment in prisons for prisoners diagnosed with possible mental illness. Prisoners with serious mental health illness can be admitted from prison to the Frankland Centre. Ongoing mental health care and treatment is then provided. If at any stage of assessment and receival into prison there are indications of self-harm appropriate, referrals are made for the prisoner to see a psychologist. (3) Prior to being released from prison, referrals are made to community based mental health care providers for prisoners with mental health illness. The appropriate transfer of patient medical information is made using patient consent and release of information protocols. If the health centre receives notification that an appointment has been made with a community mental health provider for prisoners after their release, the appointment details are provided to the prisoner prior to them being released. There have been legislative constraints on the effective treatment of prisoners once released - in particular the sharing of information between Departments and non-government service providers has been restricted. The Government has introduced changes to legislation, in the form of the Prisons and Sentencing Legislation Amendments Bill 2006 , that will allow the Department of Corrective Services to facilitate effective case management of offenders with mental health issues. These changes will significantly improve the ability to plan for the release of offenders and ensure there is continuity in their health care once released from prison. These amendments have passed the Legislative Assembly and are currently being debated in the Legislative Council.
Ongoing mental health care and treatment is then provided. If at any stage of assessment and receival into prison there are indications of self-harm appropriate, referrals are made for the prisoner to see a psychologist. (3) Prior to being released from prison, referrals are made to community based mental health care providers for prisoners with mental health illness. The appropriate transfer of patient medical information is made using patient consent and release of information protocols. If the health centre receives notification that an appointment has been made with a community mental health provider for prisoners after their release, the appointment details are provided to the prisoner prior to them being released. There have been legislative constraints on the effective treatment of prisoners once released - in particular the sharing of information between Departments and non-government service providers has been restricted. The Government has introduced changes to legislation, in the form of the Prisons and Sentencing Legislation Amendments Bill 2006 , that will allow the Department of Corrective Services to facilitate effective case management of offenders with mental health issues. These changes will significantly improve the ability to plan for the release of offenders and ensure there is continuity in their health care once released from prison. These amendments have passed the Legislative Assembly and are currently being debated in the Legislative Council.
(3) Prior to being released from prison, referrals are made to community based mental health care providers for prisoners with mental health illness. The appropriate transfer of patient medical information is made using patient consent and release of information protocols. If the health centre receives notification that an appointment has been made with a community mental health provider for prisoners after their release, the appointment details are provided to the prisoner prior to them being released. There have been legislative constraints on the effective treatment of prisoners once released - in particular the sharing of information between Departments and non-government service providers has been restricted. The Government has introduced changes to legislation, in the form of the Prisons and Sentencing Legislation Amendments Bill 2006 , that will allow the Department of Corrective Services to facilitate effective case management of offenders with mental health issues. These changes will significantly improve the ability to plan for the release of offenders and ensure there is continuity in their health care once released from prison. These amendments have passed the Legislative Assembly and are currently being debated in the Legislative Council.
There have been legislative constraints on the effective treatment of prisoners once released - in particular the sharing of information between Departments and non-government service providers has been restricted. The Government has introduced changes to legislation, in the form of the Prisons and Sentencing Legislation Amendments Bill 2006 , that will allow the Department of Corrective Services to facilitate effective case management of offenders with mental health issues. These changes will significantly improve the ability to plan for the release of offenders and ensure there is continuity in their health care once released from prison. These amendments have passed the Legislative Assembly and are currently being debated in the Legislative Council.
An assessment is then made on the prisoner and appropriate treatment commenced. If it is determined during assessment that treatment by a forensic psychiatrist is required the appropriate referral is made. Forensic psychiatrists provide treatment in prisons for prisoners diagnosed with possible mental illness. Prisoners with serious mental health illness can be admitted from prison to the Frankland Centre. Ongoing mental health care and treatment is then provided. If at any stage of assessment and receival into prison there are indications of self-harm appropriate, referrals are made for the prisoner to see a psychologist. (3) Prior to being released from prison, referrals are made to community based mental health care providers for prisoners with mental health illness. The appropriate transfer of patient medical information is made using patient consent and release of information protocols. If the health centre receives notification that an appointment has been made with a community mental health provider for prisoners after their release, the appointment details are provided to the prisoner prior to them being released. There have been legislative constraints on the effective treatment of prisoners once released - in particular the sharing of information between Departments and non-government service providers has been restricted. The Government has introduced changes to legislation, in the form of the Prisons and Sentencing Legislation Amendments Bill 2006 , that will allow the Department of Corrective Services to facilitate effective case management of offenders with mental health issues. These changes will significantly improve the ability to plan for the release of offenders and ensure there is continuity in their health care once released from prison. These amendments have passed the Legislative Assembly and are currently being debated in the Legislative Council.
Ongoing mental health care and treatment is then provided. If at any stage of assessment and receival into prison there are indications of self-harm appropriate, referrals are made for the prisoner to see a psychologist. (3) Prior to being released from prison, referrals are made to community based mental health care providers for prisoners with mental health illness. The appropriate transfer of patient medical information is made using patient consent and release of information protocols. If the health centre receives notification that an appointment has been made with a community mental health provider for prisoners after their release, the appointment details are provided to the prisoner prior to them being released. There have been legislative constraints on the effective treatment of prisoners once released - in particular the sharing of information between Departments and non-government service providers has been restricted. The Government has introduced changes to legislation, in the form of the Prisons and Sentencing Legislation Amendments Bill 2006 , that will allow the Department of Corrective Services to facilitate effective case management of offenders with mental health issues. These changes will significantly improve the ability to plan for the release of offenders and ensure there is continuity in their health care once released from prison. These amendments have passed the Legislative Assembly and are currently being debated in the Legislative Council.
(3) Prior to being released from prison, referrals are made to community based mental health care providers for prisoners with mental health illness. The appropriate transfer of patient medical information is made using patient consent and release of information protocols. If the health centre receives notification that an appointment has been made with a community mental health provider for prisoners after their release, the appointment details are provided to the prisoner prior to them being released. There have been legislative constraints on the effective treatment of prisoners once released - in particular the sharing of information between Departments and non-government service providers has been restricted. The Government has introduced changes to legislation, in the form of the Prisons and Sentencing Legislation Amendments Bill 2006 , that will allow the Department of Corrective Services to facilitate effective case management of offenders with mental health issues. These changes will significantly improve the ability to plan for the release of offenders and ensure there is continuity in their health care once released from prison. These amendments have passed the Legislative Assembly and are currently being debated in the Legislative Council.
There have been legislative constraints on the effective treatment of prisoners once released - in particular the sharing of information between Departments and non-government service providers has been restricted. The Government has introduced changes to legislation, in the form of the Prisons and Sentencing Legislation Amendments Bill 2006 , that will allow the Department of Corrective Services to facilitate effective case management of offenders with mental health issues. These changes will significantly improve the ability to plan for the release of offenders and ensure there is continuity in their health care once released from prison. These amendments have passed the Legislative Assembly and are currently being debated in the Legislative Council.
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