First reported 7 Sep 2018•Latest report 6 Feb 2026
Definition
What this concern includes
Includes release-planning, referral, records, appointments or medication-continuity failures specifically affecting healthcare after release from prison.
Not included
Excludes generic mental healthcare referral failures not connected to prisoner release or post-release continuity of care.
Excludes general homelessness, housing, accommodation or social-care access problems without a direct post-release mental healthcare continuity failure.
Excludes failures occurring solely during inpatient or custodial care that do not concern release arrangements or care after release.
Reports
5
Distinct published reports
Individual concerns
7
A report can raise multiple concerns
Date range
2018–2026
First to latest report issue date
Stated actions
14
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
HM Prison and Probation Service2
Ministry of Justice2
College of Policing1
National Police Chiefs’ Council1
NHS Dorset Integrated Care Board1
NHS England1
Probation Service1
Stoke Heath Prison1
Stoke-on-Trent City Council1
Executive agency2
Ministerial department2
English unitary authority1
Executive non-departmental public body1
Integrated care board1
National policing body1
Prison or young offender institution1
Sub-organisation1
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
Suffolk
Concerns raised1
Shortcomings in internal information passage concerning the release of prisoners receiving mental health care
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
Action
Operate a pilot flagging prisoners on the mental health caseload and require the discharging nurse to obtain mental health sign-off before release during service hours.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation ServiceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 10 February 2026.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
NSFT was informed by email of the planned release in timely fashion, although the prisoner was not considered to require attendance.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation ServiceDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
East Riding and Hull
Concerns raised1
Lack of liaison between prison medical services and local psychiatric services for prisoners with ongoing psychiatric issues at release
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.9
Action
Operate Regional Health & Justice Teams to improve integrated health services and liaison for people under probation supervision, including prison leavers.
Stated by HMPPS – Probation Service (Yorkshire & the Humber)Stated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 21 January 2026.
Action
Hold multidisciplinary meetings with prison, primary-care and community teams to formulate transition support for complex prisoners and people who self-harm.
Stated by HMPPS – Probation Service (Yorkshire & the Humber)Stated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 21 January 2026.
Action
Use the central Data Insights Under Supervision Team to support cross-service learning, develop liaison capability and monitor action plans arising from PPO reports.
Stated by HMPPS – Probation Service (Yorkshire & the Humber)Stated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 21 January 2026.
Action
Share learning from the death across HMPPS regions and regional Health & Justice Teams.
Stated by HMPPS – Probation Service (Yorkshire & the Humber)Stated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 21 January 2026.
Action
Review and develop liaison arrangements specifically for releases to geographically distant areas.
Stated by HMPPS – Probation Service (Yorkshire & the Humber)Stated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 21 January 2026.
Action
Hold multidisciplinary meetings with prison, primary care and community teams to formulate transition support for complex prisoners and people who self-harm.
Stated by HMPPS – Probation Service (Yorkshire & the Humber)Stated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 21 January 2026.
Action
Operate the central Deaths Under Supervision Team to support cross-service learning, improve prison-community liaison skills, and monitor implementation of action plans.
Stated by HMPPS – Probation Service (Yorkshire & the Humber)Stated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 21 January 2026.
Action
Share learning from the death across HMPPS regions and regional Health and Justice Teams.
Stated by HMPPS – Probation Service (Yorkshire & the Humber)Stated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 21 January 2026.
Action
Review and develop liaison arrangements for releases to geographically different areas, using learning from the death.
Stated by HMPPS – Probation Service (Yorkshire & the Humber)Stated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 21 January 2026.
Dorset
Concerns raised2
Failure of some mental healthcare trusts to accept referrals for homeless prisoners on release
Lack of practical national guidance for continuity of prisoners’ healthcare on release
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.3
Action
Provide RECONNECT care-after-custody support and release planning to improve continuity of care for people leaving prison.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 11 March 2025.
Action
Review and refresh the prison mental health service specification, using case learning to strengthen continuity and transfer of care.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 11 March 2025.
Action
Consider developing national pathway guidance with adult mental health services for people leaving prison.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 11 March 2025.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
There are currently no plans to develop specific national pathway guidance for people leaving prison, although this may be considered longer-term.
Stated by NHS EnglandNo action considered necessaryThe respondent said that no further action was needed.
Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent
Concerns raised1
Failure to ensure access to GP and community mental health services for people released from prison
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
Action
Work with health and social-care colleagues to link people released without accommodation to homeless healthcare, mental-health nursing and wider homelessness support services.
Stated by Stoke-on-Trent City CouncilStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 29 April 2024.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
The Council cannot directly address access to GP or community mental health services because it does not commission those services.
Stated by Stoke-on-Trent City CouncilOutside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.
West Yorkshire Eastern
Concerns raised2
Failure to arrange immediate GP registration after release
Failure to establish appropriate support services before release
This report raised 6 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.