THE BENTHAM UNIT - A PILOT REMAND AND ASSESSMENT SERVICE FOR MALE MENTALLY DISORDERED REMAND PRISONERS .1. CLINICAL ACTIVITY IN THE FIRST YEAR, AND RELATED ETHICAL, PRACTICAL AND FUNDING ISSUES

Background Because of continuing concern regarding the inadequacy of e xisting NHS provision for mentally disordered remand prisoners, the Be ntham Unit was commissioned as a pilot project to provide rapid assess ment and, where appropriate, hospital admission for such prisoners fro m the former North West Thames catchment area. Method Information is p resented on the 150 referrals and 62 admissions in the first year of t he service's operation. Results The service met the Reed Report target s for assessment time. Most of those referred were previously known to psychiatric services. The alleged offences were more serious than ant icipated. Those admitted were transferred to appropriate services at t he conclusion of their court cases, and remained in contact with servi ces three months later. Waiting for the conclusion of court proceeding s significantly prolonged the length of stay. Substantial cost transfe rs from the criminal justice system to the health system were evident. Conclusions Adequate services for mentally disordered remand prisoner s are entirely achievable; provision of such services is a resource is sue, not a clinical problem.