Mentally ill prisoners in need of urgent hospital transfer: appeal panels should resolve disputes to reduce delays

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Notes

1. Delays in hospital transfer of up to 3 months have been considered within the bounds of acceptable and a 12-week deadline was previously imposed for the transfer of mentally disordered prisoners to hospital. A recently revised joint Home Office/Department of Health guidelines set out mandatory requirements for the transfer of prisoners in need of treatment within 14 days of direction by the Home Secretary (Department of Health, 2005).

2. Primary care trusts (PCTs) are English statutory bodies, part of the National Health Service, responsible for delivering health care and health improvements to their local area. PCTs have their own budgets and set their own priorities, within the overriding priorities and budgets set by the relevant strategic health authority they belong to, and Department of Health in England.