Independent Review into the Delivery of Forensic Mental Health Services: Scottish Government response

Scottish Government Response to the Independent Review Recommendations

This paper represents a formal Scottish Government response to the Independent Review into the Delivery of Forensic Mental Health Services, and should be read in conjunction with the final report of the Independent Review Independent Forensic Mental Health Review: final report - gov.scot (www.gov.scot). The Independent Review sets out recommendations in themes and the Scottish Government response is similarly framed. The themes are:

Strategic governance and oversight - recommendations 1&2

Women's pathways - recommendations 3&4

Capacity and transitions - recommendations 5-21

Person-centred practices - recommendations 22-42

Specific populations - recommendations 43-58

Sharing information and expertise - recommendations 59-67

The response to each recommendation indicates the Scottish Government view on the recommendation and what the next steps will be.

The Scottish Government is committed to a collaborative and inclusive approach to inform future reforms and to working with partners to take forward recommendations. The Scottish Government will support work that will deliver improvements for patients, carers and families and to ensure recognition of forensic mental health services as an invaluable part of health provision in Scotland.

Whilst recognising that a range of partners will be involved in the delivery of the changes needed, this approach illustrates the commitment of the Scottish Government to addressing the issues raised by the Independent Review.