XN000022-1983-06-30 — Page 9

THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 1983

(F)

THE REPORT RECOMMENDS THAT A NEW DEFINITION OF MENTAL DISORDER TO INCLUDE PSYCHOPATHIC DISORDER, BASED ON THAT IN THE UK MENTAL HEALTH ACT, SHOULD BE ADOPTED, AND THAT PSYCHOPATHIC OFFENDERS WITH ABNORMALLY AGRESSIVE OR SERIOUSLY IRRESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOUR SHOULD

ANY PRISONER WITH IN FUTURE BE GIVEN HOSPITAL ORDERS.

A FIXED PRISON SENTENCE WHO IS FOUND TO BE SUFFERING FROM SUCH A PSYCHOPATHIC DISORDER WOULD BE REFERRED BACK TO THE SENTENCING COURT WITH THE AIM OF THE SENTENCE BEING REVIEWED FOR CONVERSION TO A HOSPITAL ORDER.

OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE THE ASSESSMENT, DISCHARGE, AFTERCARE AND MONITORING OF PATIENTS INCLUDE :-

* MORE EXTENSIVE USE OF MULTI-DISCIPLINARY CASE CONFERENCES AT WHICH A COLLECTIVE OPINION ON THE CONDITION OF THE PATIENT IS FORMED BY THE TEAM OF PROFESSIONAL STAFF WHO HAVE BEEN TREATING HIM (PARA 6.4).

* PROVISION OF HALFWAY HOUSES (INCLUDING THE PROVISION OF SPECIAL HALFWAY HOUSES FOR THOSE PATIENTS REQUIRING CONDITIONAL DISCHARGE) (PARA 6.22).

* MORE POSITIVE REACHING OUT BY COMMUNITY PSYCHIATRIC NURSES

AND SOCIAL WORKERS (PARA 6.9).

* PROVISION OF ADDITIONAL MEDICAL AND WELFARE STAFF (PARAS

6.14 TO 6.19, 6.23 AND 6.24).

*

IMPROVED ADVICE AND COUNSELLING FOR PATIENTS' FAMILIES (PARA 6.10).

* ACCELERATION OF THE PROJECT TO EXPAND SIU LAM PSYCHIATRIC

CENTRE (PARA 6.20).

* IMPROVED FACILITIES IN THE SECURITY WARD IN CASTLE PEAK

HOSPITAL (PARA 6.21).

ATTENTION IS ALSO DRAWN TO THE WORKING GROUP'S CONCLUSION THAT STATISTICAL EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THAT MENTALLY ILL PERSONS GENERALLY ARE NO MORE VIOLENT OR DANGEROUS THAN OTHER PERSONS, AND THAT THEY COMPRISE ONLY A VERY SMALL MINORITY OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONS CONVICTED OF VIOLENT CRIMES.

THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE REPORT WILL NOW BE CONSIDERED BY THE ADMINISTRATION. COMMENTS ON THE REPORT WILL BE WELCOMED AND CAN BE ADDRESSED TO THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, AT THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, LOWER ALBERT ROAD.

/THE ADVICE