We continue to believe that it is not acceptable for the custodial environment to be used as a ‘place of safety’ for the acutely unwell, or for a person’s ‘own protection’. Community settings also have a duty of care to individuals, and prisons should not be regarded as a solution to the failings of care and protection in the community. We reiterate the recommendations made in our Report ‘Mental Health in Prison’, and seek an update from the Government on the steps it is taking to address the...

We continue to believe that it is not acceptable for the custodial environment to be used as a ‘place of safety’ for the acutely unwell, or for a person’s ‘own protection’. Community settings also have a duty of care to individuals, and prisons should not be regarded as a solution to the failings of care and protection in the community. We reiterate the recommendations made in our Report ‘Mental Health in Prison’, and seek an update from the Government on the steps it is taking to address the use of prison as a place of safety or for a person’s own protection. Type: recommendation | Number: 23 | Paragraph: 131 | Response status: accepted Government response: We accept this recommendation. Governors work with NHS commissioners and providers to ensure that prisoners can access healthcare in a timely manner, and where necessary address staffing requirements to improve access to the full range of commissioned health services. As recovery requirements will v