Defendant held in prison 'because there is nowhere else for him to go'

Concerns raised about speed of psychiatric assessments at Jurby facility

A Manx advocate has urged the Isle of Man’s deputy high bailiff to write to Manx Care to speed up a psychiatric assessment for a man being held at the prison.

Paul Rodgers made the plea at Douglas Courthouse yesterday (7 November) on behalf of his client who is currently on remand at the Jurby facility because he has no suitable bail address.

The defendant – who’s been charged with an assault offence – pleaded with the court, via live video link, to release him to the mental health unit Manannan Court due to his ‘mental health diagnoses’.

However the court heard that wasn’t able to happen until he’d been assessed by a psychiatrist with the advocate telling the court his client hadn’t been visited since early September.

This, he said, was despite his client being held on the segregation wing.

Mr Rodgers explained that he’d be writing to Ross Bailey – Manx Care’s General Manager of Integrated Mental Health Services – to request the assessment be expedited.

He also encouraged Deputy High Bailiff Rachael Braidwood to do the same – in response she said she shouldn’t have to intervene to ensure reports like this are carried out promptly.

“It seems to me that prison isn’t the best place for him,” she told the court: “He’s only being held there because there is nowhere else for him to go.”

The man will next appear before the court on 14 November.

Manx Radio has contacted Manx Care for comment.

In a statement, provided on 10 November, the health body said: 'Access to psychiatric assessment and treatment within the IOM prison is routinely afforded through a dedicated experienced Registered Mental Health Nurse based within the prison-based healthcare team and a senior psychiatrist who undertakes a clinic on a weekly basis.

'The frequency of review undertaken by the visiting psychiatrist is determined by the individuals’ clinical presentation; this is subject to regular assessment undertaken by the resident RMN.

'In cases where the clinical professionals assess that admission to a psychiatric in-patient ward is necessary there is a well-established clinical and legal pathway to facilitate admission.'