Background: Because of continuing concern regarding the inadequacy of existing NHS provision for mentally disordered remand prisoners, the Bentham Unit was commissioned as a pilot project to provide rapid assessment and, where appropriate, hospital admission for such prisoners from the former North West Thames catchment area.
Method: Information is presented on the 150 referrals and 62 admissions in the first year of the service's operation.
Results: The service met the Reed Report targets for assessment time. Most of those referred were previously known to psychiatric services. The alleged offences were more serious than anticipated. Those admitted were transferred to appropriate services at the conclusion of their court cases, and remained in contact with services three months later. Waiting for the conclusion of court proceedings significantly prolonged the length of stay. Substantial cost transfers from the criminal justice system to the health system were evident.
Conclusions: Adequate services for mentally disordered remand prisoners are entirely achievable; provision of such services is a resource issue, not a clinical problem.