Coronavirus (COVID-19): mental health - transition and recovery plan

17. Forensic Mental Health Services

Patients in the forensic mental health system are among the most marginalised people in our society. While some are detained in secure facilities for the safety of themselves and others, it is important that we always remember that they are patients with significant needs and rights. For those in the community, support and rights must be managed in a way which benefits patients and the wider community. While the lockdown has placed restrictions on the forensic mental health system, we look to ensure that this is an area where we move forward with a renewed focus on delivering effective and safe treatment and care. To this end, we will also support the independent review into the delivery of forensic mental health services across Scotland as it continues its work and takes forward its recommendations.

• 17.1 - Changes to Practices. The response to the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in some temporary changes to practices around the oversight of restricted patients. This has supported services and allowed the care and treatment of patients to continue during the pandemic. We will take forward the lessons from this work.

• 17.2 - Secure Mental Health Services. We will continue to support the full remobilisation of secure mental health services, including the accessibility of services, movement throughout the secure mental health estate and the discharge of patients into the community. This is being done by working with the forensic mental health stakeholder group.

• 17.3 - The State Hospital. We will continue to work with The State Hospital to support its remobilisation.

• 17.4 - Criminal Justice System. We will continue to work with partners to seek better support for those with mental ill health within the criminal justice system.